Israel's Gaza ceasefire violations go unreported

Leslie Bravery | Palestine Human Rights Campaign |20 August 2014

It seems that it is only ceasefire violations that emanate from the Palestinian side that ever get publicised.

With the latest news of rockets from Gaza triggering a deadly Israeli response it is important to set the record straight. This month, on 11 and 12 August, no missiles were fired towards Israel from the Gaza Strip. Yet while people injured in Israeli air strikes were dying from their wounds, the youngest of them aged 18 months, Israel continued its violence against Palestinians both in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. An Israeli Army explosive device planted on West Bank pastoral land detonated, killing a shepherd and injuring his brother. Israel carried out four live-fire attacks in the West Bank (armed settler terrorists also carried out an attack) but of course they do not count in the ceasefire statistics. However, on 12 August, the Israeli Navy opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats – a ceasefire violation. The next day, more Palestinian missiles were fired with six Palestinians in the Gaza Strip being killed in Israeli air strikes and the Israeli Navy continuing to target Palestinian fishing boats.

On 14, 15, 16 and 17 August, again, no Palestinian missiles were fired from the Gaza Strip. However, on 14 August the Israeli Army shelled Khan Yunis farmland in al-Qarara and the Israeli Navy continued to open fire on Palestinian fishing boats – more Israeli ceasefire violations. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, armed settler terrorists stormed Irtas village with indiscriminate fire and Israeli soldiers abducted 11 Palestinian youngsters aged from 15 to 17 years.

On 15 August, the Israel Army opened fire on east al-Farahin farmland in the Khan Yunis district – another clear ceasefire violation. In the West Bank the Israeli Army opened live fire in five areas. The worst attack, in the Bab al-Zawiya area of Hebron, resulted in 17 people being wounded.

On 16 August, the Israeli Navy again attacked Palestinian fishing boats, violating the ceasefire yet again.

On 17 August, the latest report to hand confirms that no Palestinian missiles were fired from the Gaza Strip. While there were no direct Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip or its residents, the Israeli Navy continued to enforce an economically crippling fishing restriction on the beleaguered community.

It seems that it is only the ceasefire violations that emanate from the Palestinian side that ever get publicised. Every day, whether ceasefires are in force or not, the lives, boats and even equipment of Palestinian fishermen are constantly in danger from a menacing, foreign, military presence.

The references to violence in the West Bank have been included in order to help provide some context and understanding of the wider picture. All Palestinians are affected by what happens to them, both in Gaza and the West Bank. The recurring, massive, Israeli blitzes on the Gaza Strip tend to push the plight of the belligerently-occupied Palestinian community as a whole, out of sight.

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