|
Israeli Forces Use Land Mines To Separate Palestinian Cities
WASHINGTON (IslamOnline) – Israel has started to use anti-personnel land mines in blockades in order to separate Palestinian cities, according to reports by Defense For Children International (DCI).
Last Wednesday, Palestinians were trying to remove roadblocks in the village of Abu Da’eef in the Jenin area when they found four anti-personnel landmines buried inside the blockade.
“The recent discovery of anti-personnel landmines in Palestinian civilian areas constitutes yet another element of an ongoing siege against the Palestinian civilian population by the Israeli occupation authorities,” said DCI.
The international organization’s research efforts revealed that the Israeli practice of planting mines in the Occupied Territories, and its related explosions, resulted in 2,500 injured and killed since 1967, the majority of whom were children. Since 1997, over 35 Palestinians have been injured or killed by landmines.
Two weeks ago, 10-year-old Khalil Atallah from the Balatta refugee camp suffered severe injuries when was investigating an object in the ground, failing to know what the object was, Khalil threw it to the wall, which then exploded. Metal fragments from the mine caused severe injuries to the child.
Under the 1997 Mine Bane Treaty, countries are prohibited to use, stockpile, produce or transfer anti-personnel mines. The Israeli government refused to sign the treaty.
DCI has repeatedly denounced the excessive use of force by Israeli forces against civilian Palestinians, with special emphasis focused on Palestinian children’s trauma under the occupation.
It called on all international organizations participating in the International Campaign to Ban Landmines to immediately intervene for the protection of Palestinian civilians, and call for Israeli authorities to forbid the use of landmines.
DCI is a non-governmental organization established in 1979 to promote awareness for children’s rights around the world. It monitors practices against children, including child exploitation and abuse in all countries.
|
