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Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza must not repeat violations of international humanitarian law that led to killing and maiming of civilians and destruction of homes and infrastructure in previous rounds of fighting, said Amnesty International today.
Since May 10 Palestinian armed groups have fired more than 1,500 rockets striking civilian areas in central Israel and towns near the Gaza border killing and injuring civilians. Israeli forces have carried out air strikes killing and injuring civilians in Gaza. They have also damaged or destroyed at least two residential buildings housing tens of Palestinian families and one office building in Gaza, in targeted attacks amounting to collective punishment of the Palestinian population. In total at least 53 people, including 14 children, in Gaza and seven people in Israel have been killed in the violence.
Israel/ OPT: Cycle of impunity leaves civilians once again paying the price amid escalation of hostilities
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Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza must not repeat violations of international humanitarian law that led to killing and maiming of civilians and destruction of homes and infrastructure in previous rounds of fighting, said Amnesty International today.
Since 10 May Palestinian armed groups have fired more than 1,500 rockets striking civilian areas in central Israel and towns near the Gaza border killing and injuring civilians. Israeli forces have carried out air strikes killing and injuring civilians in Gaza. They have also damaged or destroyed at least two residential buildings housing tens of Palestinian families and one office building in Gaza, in targeted attacks amounting to collective punishment of the Palestinian population. In total at least 53 people, including 14 children, in Gaza and seven people in Israel have been killed in the violence.
Qusay Dawud/Getty Images Israel has a deplorable record of carrying out unlawful attacks, Amnesty International said.
These groups say Hamas rocket attacks on civilian areas in Israel could also constitute war crimes.
Israeli airstrikes have targeted and leveled multiple apartment buildings in Gaza amid escalating violence in the region this week, and top human rights groups have warned these actions could amount to war crimes. Deliberate targeting of civilian objects and extensive, unjustified destruction of property are war crimes. Destroying entire multi-storey homes making tens of families homeless amounts to collective punishment of the Palestinian population and is a breach of international law, Saleh Higazi, deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, said in a statement.
Israeli security forces have used repeated, unwarranted and excessive force against Palestinian protesters in occupied East Jerusalem following four days of violence in which 840 Palestinians were injured, Amnesty International said today.