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61 more Palestinian people were killed
this month, as the al-Aqsa intifada is well into its third
year of violence and suffering. Sadder still, 13 of these
people were children under the young age of 17. In
addition, 4 Israelis were killed. While news coverage
focuses on the restructuring of Iraq, the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict continues to demolish more
lives, most of them innocent, ordinary people.
5 of the Palestinians killed were
assassinated by the Israeli Army. Although it is well known
that this is against human rights and international law,
Israel decided a long time ago to ignore this fact and
assassination is considered general policy here. As well,
there were 2 suicide attacks in the past month, where 74
Israelis were injured, in addition to the 4 killed.
1 Palestinian was killed by an Israeli
settler and 2 other Palestinians were killed in unclear
circumstances that appear to be Intifada violence but are
under investigation.
In the 4 months of 2003, 352 people
have been killed in Israel-Palestine due to the Intifada.
This includes 293 Palestinian people and 59 Israeli people.
Of these dead, 57 were Palestinian children and 9 were
Israeli children.
The total number of human tragedies
resulting in death from the al-Aqsa intifada now numbers
2868, including 517 children. 2169 Palestinians and 702
Israelis have fallen to senseless violence and human
brutality in the Holy land. Add to these figures the
innumerable injuries, days of house-arrest curfew, land
stolen, homes demolished, children terrorized and raped of
their childhood, humiliation suffered, educations disrupted,
prisoners illegally detained, hours of torture, families
ripped apart, and the other endless and evil circumstances
of the “situation” in this land and you have quite a
nightmare in the Promised Land.
PHRMG hopes that the induction of Abu Mazen as prime
minister and the renewed plans for progress with the famed
road map will lead out of this continuous destruction of
human beings. PHRMG believes that the majority of
Palestinians and Israelis hope for peaceful circumstances
where they can pursue their individual prosperity.
Violence at all levels must come to a complete halt; from
Israeli soldiers, radical political extremists, fearful
citizens, and revenge seekers who may have truly
suffered. In the words of Ghandi, “An eye for an eye
leaves the whole world blind.”
The PHRMG is a Palestinian, independent, non-governmental
organization working to end human rights violations
committed against Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza Strip,
and East Jerusalem, regardless of those responsible. The
members of the Monitoring Group believe that the strength of
democracy and civil society in Palestinian society will be
determined by the Palestinian people, through their defense
or neglect of human rights.
Ragheb Nashashibi Street 5
Sheikh Jarrah-Jerusalem
P.O. Box 19918
East Jerusalem 91198
admin@phrmg.org
www.phrmg.org
Tel. 972-2-582-3372/3
Fax. 972-2-582-3385 |
