Ref: 22/2008
Date: 08 March 2008
Time: 08:00 GMT
On International Women’s Day, the
Suffering of Palestinian Women Continues
On 8 March, the world celebrates International Women’s Day. This
event is one of the most distinguished ones renewing support for women’s issued
and their struggle for equality, and commitment to women’s enjoyment of all
their rights in accordance with international standards and conventions.
The 8th of March comes this year upon Palestinian
women as they face very difficult and harsh circumstances due human rights
violations perpetrated by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) against Palestinian
civilians, including women. In the days preceding this day, Palestinian women
have had their sharing in paying the high price of reprisal actions by IOF
against Palestinian civilians and property.
The latest form of systematic violence by IOF was the military
campaign against Jabalya town in the northern Gaza Strip, which continued from
28 February to 4 March 2008. During this military campaign, 110 Palestinians,
including 27 children and 6 women aged 19-60, were killed by IOF. These women
were killed by IOF on one day, when they were inside their homes. For example,
Ghada ‘Abdullah, 27, was killed on 1 March 2008 while she was in her kitchen
preparing breakfast for her children, when a missile hit her house. Su’ad Rajab
‘Atallah, 60, and her daughter Ibtissam, 25, and Rajaa’, 30, were killed when
IOF aircrafts fired 3 missiles at their hime. The number of Palestinian women
killed by IOF since the beginning of 2008 has mounted to 13.
Furthermore, Palestinian women have been impacted by the policy
of collective punishment and the siege imposed by IOF against the Gaza Strip,
especially since June 2007. In this context, IOF have escalated measures of
economic and social stranglehold against the Palestinian civilian population in
the Gaza Strip, including women. The Gaza Strip has been transformed into a big
jail for its 1.5 million Palestinians, who have been denied their right to
freedom of movement and basic daily needs.
Such measures have impacted living conditions of Palestinian
women. In particular, sick women, like other patients, have been denied access
to medical treatment outside the Gaza Strip. Since June 2007, 7 women have died
due the denial by IOF of their access to medical treatment outside the Gaza
Strip. Additionally, another 6 women died while being stuck together with other
civilians at Rafah International Crossing Point, which had been closed for at
least 2 months.
Moreover, the suffering of Palestinian women has doubled with the
violence practiced against them in the society. They have been subjected to
various forms of psychological, physical and sexual violence. Additionally,
their right to life has been violated through killing for “protection of family
honor.” In this context, in 2007, 14 women were killed.
On this occasion, PCHR reiterates its absolute support for
Palestinian women in the face of the severe circumstances they face due to the
practiced of IOF, and:
1)
Calls upon the international
community to immediately intervene to stop crimes and human rights violations
perpetrated by IOF, which leave tragic impacts on the Palestinian people,
especially women.
2)
Calls for lifting the siege imposed
on the Gaza Strip as it is a form of collective punishment against the
Palestinian civilian population in violations of international law and
humanitarian law.
3)
Calls upon the Palestinian National
Authority to stop violence and the misuse of weapons.
4)
Calls for combined efforts by the
society and institutions to ensure serious work against all forms of violence
against women.
