Once again The State of Israel launches a mass war against The Republic of Lebanon and its people. Israel Defence Army (IDA) has been targeting the civil people (Lebanese and Palestinians residents), the civil infrastructure and vital functions such as hospitals, electricity stations and water supplies. IDA has imposed total blockade against Lebanon (aerial, marine and terrestrial), and severing vital supplies (medicines, food etc.) through the disablement of ports, airports, roads, bridges etc. It has been attacking any moving vehicle including ambulances, fleeing refugees, and humanitarian supplies trucks.
Once again The State of Israel launches a mass war against The Republic of Lebanon and its people. Israel Defence Army (IDA) has been targeting the civil people (Lebanese and Palestinians residents), the civil infrastructure and vital functions such as hospitals, electricity stations and water supplies. IDA has imposed total blockade against Lebanon (aerial, marine and terrestrial), and severing vital supplies (medicines, food etc.) through the disablement of ports, airports, roads, bridges etc. It has been attacking any moving vehicle including ambulances, fleeing refugees, and humanitarian supplies trucks.
All these acts are war crimes and crimes against humanity, for which Israeli state leaders should be prosecuted before International tribunal.
The Israeli pretext for launching this war of annihilation is the capture of two Israeli soldiers by The Lebanese Islamic Resistance (LIR) the military arm of Hezbollah. The LIR has captured 2 Israeli solders to trade them for Lebanese Captives with Israel, which should have handed them upon withdrawal from Lebanon in May 2000, plus handing Shaba farms and the maps of Israeli landmines , as part of ending hostilities between Israel and Lebanon.
Regardless of that, Israel is launching a total war against Lebanon and the Lebanese people which is a sovereign country, contrary to international law, UN charter, bilateral armistice agreement of 1949, UN Security Council resolution1559, and many others.
Israel is intentionally violating international conventions on the rules of wars.
The Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits “collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism …” (Article 33). According to Article 147 of the Convention, “extensive destruction … not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly,” hostage-taking and “torture or inhuman treatment” are grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and constitute war crimes. All state parties to the Convention are required to search for and ensure the prosecution of perpetrators of grave breaches of the said Convention.
Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions codifies the principle of distinction, a customary rule of international humanitarian law: “In order to ensure respect for and protection of the civilian population and civilian objects, the Parties to the conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives and accordingly shall direct their operation only against military objectives.” (Article 48). International Humanitarian Law strictly prohibits attacks against civilians and civilian objects. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) includes as war crimes: “Intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population as such or against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities”, and “Intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects” (Article 8 2 (b) (i) and (ii)).
The USA is partner and collaborator with Israel in this war, through military, financial and political support to Israel even as the war goes on. US has blocked UN Security action to stop the war, and practiced pressures against other members of the council. These members along wit UN General Secretary have also responsibility to enact the international legitimacy
We address all members of UN Security council to shoulder their responsibility to stop the war immediately and curb Israel to end its siege and aggressions against Lebanon. Dispute between Israel and Lebanon should be solved according to international law and not under the blackmail of war.
We urge the international community to deplore the Israeli war and to furnish all kinds of support to Lebanon.
We urge international human rights organizations not to equate the victim (Lebanon) with the aggressor Israel, and not to be intimidated by the Israeli or Zionist blackmail thus should condemn the Israeli war, and all acts against civilians and civil targets.
We appeal to all humanitarian agencies and organizations to rush personnel and aid to Lebanon.
We condemn the Israeli war of annihilation against the Lebanese people.
We salute the Lebanese people
The Signatories (Bahraini human rights organizations and activists):
- Abdul Hadi Marhoon, First Deputy of House of Representatives and the President of the Bahraini Coalition on International Criminal Court (BCICC)
- Abdul Nabi Al-Ekri& Reda Alqatefe Bahrain Human Rights Society
- Jawad Abdul Wahhab, Bahrain Bar Society
- Abbas Hilal, The President of Bharain Bar Society
- Abdul Wahhab Ameen, The Vice President of Bahrain Bar Society
- Nabeel Rajab, The Vice President of Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
- Hussain Jawad, The Vice President of Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights
- Nasser Burdestani, The Executive Coordinator of Bahrain Coalition for ICC
Manama, The Kingdom of Bahrain, !st Aug. 2006