June 12, 2006
The massacre on the beach of Gaza on Friday, 9 June, of 7 innocent
civilians, including children, women and old people, all members of the
same family, and causing injuries to dozens of others, is yet another of
the long list of crimes against humanity which have been carried out
by the Israeli Army in concurrence with its Government.
In addition, extrajudicial executions by Israeli war planes have, in the
last days, killed a further 7 Palestinians, including three civilians, and
injured up to 36 people. The extrajudicial execution on Thursday of a
high-ranking Hamas official of the Ministry of the Interior, Jamal Abu
Samhadana, in Rafah in the Gaza Strip, makes it apparent that Ehud
Olmert, Dan Halutz and Amir Peretz are ordering these attacks to
prevent any negotiations with Palestinian representatives. Even more
so, the Government of Israel is deliberately provoking violence and
retaliation by Hamas on Israelis in order to justify further its crimes
against the Palestinian people.
Over the last weeks more than 5,000 artillery shells have been fired by
the Israeli Army into the Northern Gaza Strip, causing countless
deaths and injuries. In addition, the sonic bomb attacks by the Israeli
air force over Gaza continue to traumatize those living there.
It is obvious that these acts by the Government of Israel, together
with its unilateral plans, are immoral, illegal, contravene international
law, and cause tragedy to Palestinians and ultimately, to its own
citizens.
We wholeheartedly condemn these deplorable acts against a captive,
civilian, occupied people and wish to add the support of the European
Jews For a Just Peace to the Israeli peace groups which demonstrated
on 10 June in front of Dan Halutz’ home in Tel Aviv.
EJJP Executive Committee