December, 29 2008, 11:01am EDT
Kucinich Calls For Independent UN Inquiry on Gaza
Israeli government attacks civilians in violation of international law
WASHINGTON
U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich today released the following
statement as Israeli attacks on Gaza have gone into a third day with a pending
ground invasion of Gaza by Israel:
"Today I sent a
letter to Secretary General Ban ki-Moon urging the United Nations to establish
an independent inquiry of Israel's
war against Gaza.
The attacks on civilians represent collective punishment, which is a violation
of Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention (https://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/92.htm).
The perpetrators of attacks against Israel
must also be brought to justice, but Israel cannot create a war against
an entire people in order to attempt to bring to justice the few who are
responsible. The Israeli leaders know better. The world community, which has
been very supportive of Israel's
right to security and its right to survive, also has a right to expect Israel to conduct itself in adherence to the
very laws which support the survival of Israel and every other nation,"
Kucinich said.
"Israel is leveling Gaza
to strike at Hamas, just as they pulverized south Lebanon to strike at Hezbollah. Yet
in both cases civilian populations were attacked, countless innocents killed or
injured, infrastructure targeted and destroyed, and civil law enforcement
negated. All this was, and is, disproportionate, indiscriminate mass violence
in violation of international law. Israel is not exempt from
international law and must be held accountable. It is time for the UN to not
just call for a cease-fire, but for an inquiry as to Israel's actions."
According to published
news reports, since the commencement of aerial strikes, over 300 Palestinians
have been killed and approximately 1,400 have been wounded. The dead include 20
children under the age of 16--nearly half of them killed while on a school bus,
according to the United Nations--and 9 women. The attack aggravated a
humanitarian crisis wrought by the Israeli-imposed blockade of food, fuel, and
medical supplies. With a population of 1.5 million people, the Gaza Strip is
among the most densely populated territories in the world.
Dennis Kucinich is an American politician. A U.S. Representative from Ohio from 1997 to 2013, he was also a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States in 2004 and 2008.
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