2021-07-25

Gaza

Gaza / Core Program / position paper

Following the killing of a young man by Gaza security forces: There is no alternative to respecting human rights and holding violators accountable

An apology is required about statements and policies that underestimate killing and protect perpetrators.

MUSAWA - The Palestinian Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession expresses its shock, astonishment, disapproval, and condemnation of statements attributed to prominent figures in the government in Gaza which, if correctly, add protection, care, and justification to the culture of killing and taking lives, and unleashing the elements of the security forces to tamper with the lives of citizens for reasons and considerations related to the culture of adopting the security approach in dealing with citizens. The aforementioned statements described the behavior of the "Humat al-Thogour" Guardians of Boundaries division members and their shooting at citizens who drove over a security barrier set up by those elements who opened fire on the car, killing one of its passengers, the late 27-year-old Hassan Mohamed Abu Zayed, as proper and obligatory behavior.

MUSAWA sees in such protection, care, and justification what constitutes a stimulus, encouragement, incitement and consolidation of the approach of disregarding the right to life, and underestimating killing, and its adoption as a means of imposing judgment, in contradiction with the right to life, physical integrity and human dignity, which are safeguarded and clearly stipulated in the Basic Law. This includes Such statements under the umbrella of participation in the crime that calls for accountability, especially since these statements were issued before the completion of the investigation into the accident and the announcement of its findings which represented a preemption to those findings and even a specification of their direction. Thus, their seriousness is equal to, if not greater than, the seriousness of the crime itself.

We, MUSAWA - The Palestinian Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession, demand the Public Prosecution or the Military Prosecution! to immediately start a transparent and professional investigation into the murder of citizen Hassan Abu Zayed, taking the obligatory legal measure for the perpetrators, announcing the findings of its investigations, referring the accused to trial, and ensuring compensation for the victim’s family, in addition to taking the policy and administrative requirement regarding the statements that gave protection to the accused, which may constitute impunity for the accused, and contradicts human and constitutional values ​​and rights, including issuing an official apology about those statements that threaten civil peace and tamper with societal security and the lives of citizens. There is no alternative to respecting human rights and holding violators accountable.

Issued on: 25/07/2021                                                    

MUSAWA