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The latest trend
in the Israeli Armed Forces’ fashion of violating human
rights is to attack private Palestinian internet providers
and attack peaceful international demonstrators.
Not only are attacks on journalists increasing, but
recently the Israeli Army has been busy attacking and
temporarily shutting down the largest Palestinian internet
provider as well as using violence to break up peaceful
demonstrations in Jerusalem and Ramallah.
On Monday, July
15, at 2 a.m., Israeli Armed Forces broke into PALNET, the
internet provider for two-thirds of Palestinian users,
taking a PALNET employee as a human shield, detaining all
staff members for interrogation.
Israeli forces also recklessly destroyed property in
nearby offices. Internet service for some 10,000 Palestinians, the only means
of communication with the outside world for many civilians
trapped in the Occupied Territories, was shut down for
twenty-four hours. No explanation was given by the Israeli Forces for this
violence upon a private, non-political company.
Such action makes it apparent that the Israeli Army
believes it will not be held accountable for its actions and
needs answer to no one for breaking international laws and
violating human rights.
Two days earlier,
on July 13, Israeli Armed Forces assaulted international
demonstrators who were demonstrating for the right to
education of Palestinian students at the offices of al-Quds
University in Jerusalem.
Participants were beaten with rifle butts and the
fists of the soldiers and one woman was assaulted and
grabbed by her throat.
The demonstration was lawful and peaceful and should
not have caused a problem in a country that considers itself
a democracy. Using
excessive force against civilians without prior warning is
not acceptable.
International
protestors in Ramallah also faced violence on Tuesday, July
16, as they held a peaceful protest against the continuous
curfew imposed upon the Occupied Territories.
Soldiers were documented abusing demonstrators by
grabbing them by hair, kicking, and using other forms of
violence.
PHRMG denounces
the violence used by the Israeli Armed Forces who attacked
innocent civilians protesting against Israeli human rights
violations, as well as the terrorizing of independent
Palestinian businesses.
Such actions are not acceptable in any democracy.
PHRMG urges the international community to pressure
Israel to halt the use of violence and intimidation against
civilians immediately.
PHRMG demands Israel stop using force against
civilians.
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