19
Israel Kills
Families Targeted by Israeli Terror in 2012
Fifth: Israeli Violations of the Right to
Life
Although the right to life is the most
important and basic human right, Israeli Occupation
Forces have repeatedly violated the right of
Palestinians to life through using excessive and
lethal force, and carrying out murder. It clearly
violates the provisions of Article III of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, which provides every
individual with the right to life, liberty and security.
It also violates the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics
and the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the
Protection of Civilian during the time of war.
Therefore, the international covenants set
important principles to protect the right to life and
forbid the use of firearms except in the following
extreme cases: self-defence, protecting other people
from the risk of death and serious injury, preventing
serious crimes that could pose a threat to life,
arresting a threatening person who is resisting the
authorities, and preventing the escape of wanted
people.
The unprecedented escalation by the Israeli
forces in the Gaza Strip has led to thousands of
Palestinian martyrs during the years of occupation.
These numbers show the extent the escalation
has reached by using excessive and deadly force
against civilians. According to hundreds of
evidences documented by human rights and press
organizations, the occupation troops have used
excessive force against Palestinians who do not pose
a threat to the lives of its soldiers, which explains
the dramatic rise in the number of victims.
