World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) CALLS FOR UN-LED MISSION IN GAZA

WORLD ORGANISATION AGAINST TORTURE CALLS FOR UN-LED MISSION IN GAZA

GENEVA, Jan 6 (KUNA) — The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) has said that it was concerned over lack of common response and action by the international community over the Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. The OMCT called in a statement Monday for the establishment of an UN-led investigation mission whose mandate should be to establish the facts, draw up a list of violations of both human rights and humanitarian law, identify those responsible of these violations and to launch legal action against them, identify victims and damages incurred; and to ensure the full reparation for said damages. It has also called for the immediate cessation of Israeli military operations. The OMCT expressed deep concern over the Israeli forces’ military operations into the Gaza Strip which started on Dec 27, 2008 and caused so far the death of more than 520 Palestinian, including 107 children and 46 women and injury of over 2,000 others. The torture organisation said that it is further concerned by the ongoing ground invasion into the Gaza Strip, as it means fighting in densely populated areas. The OMCT strongly condemned the disproportionate use of force by the IDF, causing unprecedented loss of civilian life, and other grave violations of both human rights and humanitarian laws, including of the Geneva Conventions and Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which forbids collective punishment. While the humanitarian condition in the Gaza Strip had already reached a dire situation before the Israeli military operations, the OMCT fears that the current context will increase the death toll, in particular due to the lack of appropriate medical supplies in the hospitals. The OMCT called on Israel to ensure the unhindered movement of medical personnel and ambulances to carry out their duties and of wounded persons to access medical care and on the Israel authorities to take all necessary steps to ensure that the civilian population has access to sufficient food, medical care, and other essential humanitarian goods and services. – NNN-KUNA