Hossam Al Ruweidi
An Israeli teenager who killed a Palestinian from east Jerusalem in a racially-motivated attack last year has been sentenced to eight years in jail.
In February 2011, 24-year-old Hossam Al Ruweidi was killed during an attack in central Jerusalem by four Jewish youths.
On Thursday, one of the youths, who was 16 at the time of the attack, was convicted of manslaughter as part of a plea bargain in a Jerusalem juvenile court, court documents showed.
The court heard that three Jewish youths and another friend, all of whom had been drinking all night, came across Ruweidi speaking Arabic with a friend. One of the four began “yelling racial slurs at them and punching them.”
“Though the defendant did not hear the content of the shouts... when he saw (his friend) hitting the two, he joined the fight, and at a certain point pulled a straight razor our of his pocket and attacked the deceased with it, causing a deep cut to his face,” Justice Zvi Segal said.
The other two youths also joined the fight, and the four kicked and punched Ruweidi and his friend. Ruweidi eventually collapsed and was taken to hospital where he died from the injury to his face, the ruling said. AFP
An Israeli teenager who killed a Palestinian from east Jerusalem in a racially-motivated attack last year has been sentenced to eight years in jail.
In February 2011, 24-year-old Hossam Al Ruweidi was killed during an attack in central Jerusalem by four Jewish youths.
On Thursday, one of the youths, who was 16 at the time of the attack, was convicted of manslaughter as part of a plea bargain in a Jerusalem juvenile court, court documents showed.
The court heard that three Jewish youths and another friend, all of whom had been drinking all night, came across Ruweidi speaking Arabic with a friend. One of the four began “yelling racial slurs at them and punching them.”
“Though the defendant did not hear the content of the shouts... when he saw (his friend) hitting the two, he joined the fight, and at a certain point pulled a straight razor our of his pocket and attacked the deceased with it, causing a deep cut to his face,” Justice Zvi Segal said.
The other two youths also joined the fight, and the four kicked and punched Ruweidi and his friend. Ruweidi eventually collapsed and was taken to hospital where he died from the injury to his face, the ruling said. AFP
12 july 2012
Former state witness found murdered in Jaffa
Former state witness found murdered in Jaffa
David Hokek 42
Witness whose testimony led to charges against 14 individuals murdered overnight Thursday.
David Hokek, a 42-year-old Givatayim resident was shot to death overnight Thursday near the promenade that straddles the Tel Aviv-Jaffa border. In the past, Hokek served as a state witness in a case against the Rohan crime family of central Israel. As a result of his testimony, 14 individuals were convicted on gambling and embezzlement charges.
Because of the sensitivity of issues surrounding the murder, numerous senior police officials arrived at the scene of the murder, including Tel Aviv regional commander Aaron Axelrod.
Due to a police request, there is currently a prohibition order against reporting findings at the murder scene.
Shortly after midnight, Hokek was driving on Jerusalem Boulevard in Jaffa. The murder took place at the intersection of Eilat Street and Jerusalem Boulevard. Magen David Adom officials declared him dead at the scene.
In the past, a motorcycle was found closet to the victim’s home, containing a LAW, a shoulder-fired anti-tank projectile weapon. The police believed then that the weapon was intended for use on Hokek, after he became a witness for the state.
Related
Witness whose testimony led to charges against 14 individuals murdered overnight Thursday.
David Hokek, a 42-year-old Givatayim resident was shot to death overnight Thursday near the promenade that straddles the Tel Aviv-Jaffa border. In the past, Hokek served as a state witness in a case against the Rohan crime family of central Israel. As a result of his testimony, 14 individuals were convicted on gambling and embezzlement charges.
Because of the sensitivity of issues surrounding the murder, numerous senior police officials arrived at the scene of the murder, including Tel Aviv regional commander Aaron Axelrod.
Due to a police request, there is currently a prohibition order against reporting findings at the murder scene.
Shortly after midnight, Hokek was driving on Jerusalem Boulevard in Jaffa. The murder took place at the intersection of Eilat Street and Jerusalem Boulevard. Magen David Adom officials declared him dead at the scene.
In the past, a motorcycle was found closet to the victim’s home, containing a LAW, a shoulder-fired anti-tank projectile weapon. The police believed then that the weapon was intended for use on Hokek, after he became a witness for the state.
Related
9 july 2012
Israeli Officers Get Light Sentence for Murder
Israeli Officers Get Light Sentence for Murder
Omar Abu Jariban
The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court Monday convicted two Israeli police officers of “negligent homicide” and sentenced them for two-and-a-half years in prison for abandoning and leaving an injured Palestinian to die on the side of the road, according to Israeli media reports.
The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court Monday convicted two Israeli police officers of “negligent homicide” and sentenced them for two-and-a-half years in prison for abandoning and leaving an injured Palestinian to die on the side of the road, according to Israeli media reports.
Asaf Yakutieli
Reports said that the two Israeli officers, Baruch Peretz and Asaf Yakutieli, left Omar Abu Jiryan, a resident of Gaza, on the side of the road near Qalandia army checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, without food or water, despite his critical condition. He was found dead the next day due to severe dehydration.
Abu Jiryan was getting treatment at an Israeli hospital after being injured in a car accident following a police chase.
However, the two officers removed him from his sickbed and took him to the West Bank despite his critical condition.
Reports said that the two Israeli officers, Baruch Peretz and Asaf Yakutieli, left Omar Abu Jiryan, a resident of Gaza, on the side of the road near Qalandia army checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, without food or water, despite his critical condition. He was found dead the next day due to severe dehydration.
Abu Jiryan was getting treatment at an Israeli hospital after being injured in a car accident following a police chase.
However, the two officers removed him from his sickbed and took him to the West Bank despite his critical condition.
Baruch Peretz
Instead of handing him over to Palestinian medical crew, the officers left him on the side of the road with an IV still sticking in his body where he died of dehydration.
The judge described the officers’ actions as “nauseating, unethical and unspeakable,” yet they were given a light sentence in spite of the fact that Abu Jiryan was abandoned in an area where he was not able to contact anyone.
The family of the deceased filed a civil suit against the Israeli police demanding compensation for the death of their son.
Instead of handing him over to Palestinian medical crew, the officers left him on the side of the road with an IV still sticking in his body where he died of dehydration.
The judge described the officers’ actions as “nauseating, unethical and unspeakable,” yet they were given a light sentence in spite of the fact that Abu Jiryan was abandoned in an area where he was not able to contact anyone.
The family of the deceased filed a civil suit against the Israeli police demanding compensation for the death of their son.
Ziad Jilani 39, with his wife and child
Israel's state prosecutor Yehuda Weinstein on Wednesday decided not to press charges against two Israeli border policemen who killed a Palestinian in 2010.
The decision upholds Weinstein's predecessor's ruling, which determined there was insufficient evidence to press charges against Maxim Vinogradov or Shadi Khair el-Din.
Ziad Jilani was killed on June 11, 2010. Jilani was driving in East Jerusalem when a stone hit his car. He swerved into an adjacent alley, where ten Israeli police officers were standing, lightly injuring three of them.
The police opened fire, and Jilani ran into a nearby alley where his uncle lived. Khair al-Din fired the first shot in Jilani's back, after which he fell to the ground. Vinogradov then shot Jilani in the head at close range.
Israel's state prosecutor Yehuda Weinstein on Wednesday decided not to press charges against two Israeli border policemen who killed a Palestinian in 2010.
The decision upholds Weinstein's predecessor's ruling, which determined there was insufficient evidence to press charges against Maxim Vinogradov or Shadi Khair el-Din.
Ziad Jilani was killed on June 11, 2010. Jilani was driving in East Jerusalem when a stone hit his car. He swerved into an adjacent alley, where ten Israeli police officers were standing, lightly injuring three of them.
The police opened fire, and Jilani ran into a nearby alley where his uncle lived. Khair al-Din fired the first shot in Jilani's back, after which he fell to the ground. Vinogradov then shot Jilani in the head at close range.
Vinogradov says he saw Jilani move his hand and thought Jilani might have had a bomb or weapon. Vinogradov says he shot Jilani to "neutralize" a potential threat, although Jilani's body was not checked even after he was shot.
Weinstein acknowledged Vinogradov's reasoning in his decision to not press charges.
“We cannot rule out, beyond reasonable doubt, that one of the fighters (border policemen) really did believe in real time that the deceased, that moved his hand while he was lying wounded on the ground, was yet to be finally neutralized, and was still considered a danger" Weinstein said in a statement.
"As a result, (Vinogradov) was startled, and committed another shooting in his direction from close range.”
Jilani’s family say they are looking at next steps to pursue justice.
Weinstein acknowledged Vinogradov's reasoning in his decision to not press charges.
“We cannot rule out, beyond reasonable doubt, that one of the fighters (border policemen) really did believe in real time that the deceased, that moved his hand while he was lying wounded on the ground, was yet to be finally neutralized, and was still considered a danger" Weinstein said in a statement.
"As a result, (Vinogradov) was startled, and committed another shooting in his direction from close range.”
Jilani’s family say they are looking at next steps to pursue justice.
|
|
Message from Moira:
My beloved husband, Ziad Jilani, was executed by Israeli Border Policeman, Maxim Vinogradov on June 11, 2010. There is undeniable evidence that my husband was lying unarmed and wounded on the ground, posing no threat when Israeli Border Policeman Maxim Vinogradov shot him point blank in the head. Despite the multiple contradictions, revisions and blatant lies in the testimony of the soldier who killed him, exposed by the autopsy, the Israeli authorities have closed the case against Maxim Vinogradov and his commander Shadi Kheir Al-Din. The closing of the case against Ziad's killer is a clear message to Israeli |
soldiers: simply claim that you suspect a Palestinian is a terrorist and you will not be held accountable if you execute him or her.
My daughters and I have appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court to demand Israel's state prosecutor bring criminal charges against Ziad's killer and his commander.
We seek international support, not only to get justice for Ziad but also to save the lives of future potential victims by sending Israeli soldiers the message that they can be held accountable for killing innocent people.
Twelve days before Maxim Vinogradov executed my husband, Israeli commandos had raided the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish ship carrying aid to Gaza, while in international waters, shooting dead nine of its passengers.
My daughters and I have appealed to the Israeli Supreme Court to demand Israel's state prosecutor bring criminal charges against Ziad's killer and his commander.
We seek international support, not only to get justice for Ziad but also to save the lives of future potential victims by sending Israeli soldiers the message that they can be held accountable for killing innocent people.
Twelve days before Maxim Vinogradov executed my husband, Israeli commandos had raided the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish ship carrying aid to Gaza, while in international waters, shooting dead nine of its passengers.
Maxim Vinogradov
On that day, Vinogradov responded to a Facebook post of his friend, Avi Yaacobov, which said in Hebrew "Exterminate Turkey and all the Arabs from the world."
Vinogradov replied: " I am with you my brother and I with God's help will begin this."
His friend replied, "And you, knock on wood, are capable of it." This is just one of many similar posts where Maxim expresses opinions calling for death to Arabs. Maxim is being supported in acting on his racist convictions by the impunity granted him by the Israeli authorities.
Please sign this petition. We deserve justice.
Thank you,
Moira Jilani
On that day, Vinogradov responded to a Facebook post of his friend, Avi Yaacobov, which said in Hebrew "Exterminate Turkey and all the Arabs from the world."
Vinogradov replied: " I am with you my brother and I with God's help will begin this."
His friend replied, "And you, knock on wood, are capable of it." This is just one of many similar posts where Maxim expresses opinions calling for death to Arabs. Maxim is being supported in acting on his racist convictions by the impunity granted him by the Israeli authorities.
Please sign this petition. We deserve justice.
Thank you,
Moira Jilani
12 june 2012
The following is a translated transcript of the appeal from Helme Samouni:
"On behalf of the surviving members of the Sammoni family and the hundreds of other families in Gaza who have been killed by war crimes committed by the Givati Brigade of the Israeli Army, we are shocked and disappointed by the decision of De Beers to present the Queen of England with a diamond manufactured by the Steinmetz Diamond company -- a company which supported the Givati Brigade during the Israeli war on Gaza late 2008 as they murdered 29 members of our family in cold blood. We the Sammoni family call on the Queen of England and the British people to decline this gift. We demand that De Beers be instructed to remove this offensive blood diamond display immediately.
Diamonds that generate revenue used to fund a regime guilty of war crimes are de-facto blood diamonds.
We call on De-Beers to show respect for the surviving victims of the diamond-funded Givati Brigade's actions in Gaza and remove the Forevermark Steinmetz Jubilee diamond from the Tower of London.
We call on Steinmetz Diamond company to end all support for and association with the Israeli military and to make reparation to the Sammuni family and the other victims of the Givati Brigade's actions in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead.
The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem describes the massacre of 21 members of the Al Samouni family as follows:
"On 4 January 2009, at the start of the ground phase of operation Cast Lead, about 100 members of the extended a-Samuni family were huddled inside one house in the a-Zeitun neighborhood of Gaza City. The next morning, an Israeli airstrike killed 21 people inside the house, including 9 children and 10 women, and injured dozens of other family members. During the next two days, the army refused access to medical teams, in spite of being informed of the terrible outcome by family members who managed to escape the bombed home and human rights and humanitarian organizations, including B'Tselem. When medics managed to get to site, they found four small children next to their dead mothers in one of the houses, and evacuated several wounded people. The army refused permission to evacuate the bodies and they remained in the rubble for a further two weeks."
A UH Human Rights Council investigation concluded that Israeli forces committed serious war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.
"On behalf of the surviving members of the Sammoni family and the hundreds of other families in Gaza who have been killed by war crimes committed by the Givati Brigade of the Israeli Army, we are shocked and disappointed by the decision of De Beers to present the Queen of England with a diamond manufactured by the Steinmetz Diamond company -- a company which supported the Givati Brigade during the Israeli war on Gaza late 2008 as they murdered 29 members of our family in cold blood. We the Sammoni family call on the Queen of England and the British people to decline this gift. We demand that De Beers be instructed to remove this offensive blood diamond display immediately.
Diamonds that generate revenue used to fund a regime guilty of war crimes are de-facto blood diamonds.
We call on De-Beers to show respect for the surviving victims of the diamond-funded Givati Brigade's actions in Gaza and remove the Forevermark Steinmetz Jubilee diamond from the Tower of London.
We call on Steinmetz Diamond company to end all support for and association with the Israeli military and to make reparation to the Sammuni family and the other victims of the Givati Brigade's actions in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead.
The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem describes the massacre of 21 members of the Al Samouni family as follows:
"On 4 January 2009, at the start of the ground phase of operation Cast Lead, about 100 members of the extended a-Samuni family were huddled inside one house in the a-Zeitun neighborhood of Gaza City. The next morning, an Israeli airstrike killed 21 people inside the house, including 9 children and 10 women, and injured dozens of other family members. During the next two days, the army refused access to medical teams, in spite of being informed of the terrible outcome by family members who managed to escape the bombed home and human rights and humanitarian organizations, including B'Tselem. When medics managed to get to site, they found four small children next to their dead mothers in one of the houses, and evacuated several wounded people. The army refused permission to evacuate the bodies and they remained in the rubble for a further two weeks."
A UH Human Rights Council investigation concluded that Israeli forces committed serious war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.
|
|
The Sammoni family, 29 members of which were killed by the Israeli military in Gaza in 2009, have issued an appeal to the British Queen to remove the Steinmetz Forevermark Jubilee Diamond which De Beers put on display in the Tower of London to mark the Queen Elizabeth II's Jubilee.
In total, 29 members of the Sammoni family were killed by the Givati Brigade of the Israeli army during the Israeli assault on Gaza (Operation Cast Lead) in December 2008 – January 2009. 21 were killed in a single airstrike on a building in which the family were taking cover, and 8 others killed during the course of the 23-day-long attack. The Steinmetz diamond company has "adopted" a Unit of the Givati Brigade which it funded and supported during the brutal assault on the people of Gaza. In the appeal, posted to YouTube today, Helmi Sammoni, speaking on |
behalf
of the family said: "On behalf of the surviving members of the
Sammoni family and the hundreds of other families in Gaza who have
been killed by war crimes committed by the Givati Brigade of the
Israeli Army, we are shocked and disappointed by the decision of De Beers to present the Queen of England with a diamond manufactured by the Steinmetz Diamond company – a company which supported the Givati Brigade during the Israeli war on Gaza late 2008 as they murdered 29 members of our family in cold blood. We the Sammoni family call on the Queen of England and the British people to decline this gift. We demand that De Beers be instructed to remove this offensive blood diamond display immediately."
Background
In one of the most despicable example of gross human rights violations recorded during the three weeks of the attack, twenty one members of the Sammoni family - innocent and defenceless children, women and men - were killed by the Givati Brigade in a single incident. The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem describes the incident as follows:
"On 4 January 2009, at the start of the ground phase of operation Cast Lead, about 100 members of the extended a-Samuni family were huddled inside one house in the a-Zeitun neighborhood of Gaza City. The next morning, an Israeli airstrike killed 21 people inside the house, including 9 children and 10 women, and injured dozens of other family members. During the next two days, the army refused access to medical teams, in spite of being informed of the terrible outcome by family members who managed to escape the bombed home and human rights and humanitarian organizations, including B'Tselem. When medics managed to get to site, they found four small children next to their dead mothers in one of the houses, and evacuated several wounded people. The army refused permission to evacuate the bodies and they remained in the rubble for a further two weeks."
A UN Human Rights Council investigation concluded that Israeli forces committed serious war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during Operation Cast Lead.
Sean Clinton, coordinator of the Boycott Israeli Blood Diamonds campaign for the Boycott Israel Network (BIN) and the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) stated: "Diamonds that generate revenue used to fund a regime guilty of war crimes, in this case Israel's apartheid regime, are de-facto blood diamonds. We call on De-Beers to show respect for the surviving victims of the diamond-funded Givati Brigade's actions in Gaza and remove the Forevermark Steinmetz Jubilee diamond from the Tower of London."
Background
In one of the most despicable example of gross human rights violations recorded during the three weeks of the attack, twenty one members of the Sammoni family - innocent and defenceless children, women and men - were killed by the Givati Brigade in a single incident. The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem describes the incident as follows:
"On 4 January 2009, at the start of the ground phase of operation Cast Lead, about 100 members of the extended a-Samuni family were huddled inside one house in the a-Zeitun neighborhood of Gaza City. The next morning, an Israeli airstrike killed 21 people inside the house, including 9 children and 10 women, and injured dozens of other family members. During the next two days, the army refused access to medical teams, in spite of being informed of the terrible outcome by family members who managed to escape the bombed home and human rights and humanitarian organizations, including B'Tselem. When medics managed to get to site, they found four small children next to their dead mothers in one of the houses, and evacuated several wounded people. The army refused permission to evacuate the bodies and they remained in the rubble for a further two weeks."
A UN Human Rights Council investigation concluded that Israeli forces committed serious war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during Operation Cast Lead.
Sean Clinton, coordinator of the Boycott Israeli Blood Diamonds campaign for the Boycott Israel Network (BIN) and the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) stated: "Diamonds that generate revenue used to fund a regime guilty of war crimes, in this case Israel's apartheid regime, are de-facto blood diamonds. We call on De-Beers to show respect for the surviving victims of the diamond-funded Givati Brigade's actions in Gaza and remove the Forevermark Steinmetz Jubilee diamond from the Tower of London."
|
|
Notes:
1 - Helmi Sammoni, speaking on behalf of the Sammoni family, issued this appeal to the Queen: (Video above) 2 - De-Beers Forevermark Facebook page The Steinmetz Forevermark Jubilee Pink Diamond has gone on display at the Tower of London to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. This unique, fancy pink-brown colour, 35.60 carat cushion cut Forevermark diamond has been inscribed with a bespoke number, 19522012 – the year of HRH Queen Elizabeth II's coronation and the 60th year of her reign. |
It
took the experts at Steinmetz Diamonds six months to perfect the
cut, crafting the beautiful cushion cut from the original 179.96
carat rough diamond.
3 – Steinmetz Foundation Website
The Foundation has "adopted" Tzabar Unit of the Israeli Defense Forces’ Givati Brigade. The Foundation fosters a close relationship with the commanders and their soldiers, helps the brigade organize evening events, buys equipment for end-of-course ceremonies and gives aid to needy soldiers. During Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip, the Foundation helped the Unit purchase complementary equipment as well as visited and cared for the wounded soldiers.
4 – ICRC report
The ICRC/PRCS team found four small children next to their dead mothers in one of the houses. They were too weak to stand up on their own. One man was also found alive, too weak to stand up. In all there were at least 12 corpses lying on mattresses. In another house, the ICRC/PRCS rescue team found 15 other survivors of this attack including several wounded. In yet another house, they found an additional three corpses.
5 – Goldstone Report [PDF]- UN Human Rights Council Report of the Fact-Finding Mission of the Gaza Conflict (p159 – p166)
De-Beers, the diamond behemoth, is exploiting the celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in a vulgar and insensitive manner in order to promote their diamonds.
The company's decision to display a Forevermark Steinmetz Diamond at the Tower of London ignores the fact that the Steinmetz Diamond Group, through the Steinmetz Foundation, has "adopted" a Unit of the infamous Givati Brigade in the Israel military. The Israeli military stands accused of "serious war crimes and possible crimes against humanity" by the UN Human Rights Council.
The Givati Brigade was responsible for the one of the most appalling examples of gross human rights violations recorded during Israel's assault on the besieged residents of Gaza in January 2009. The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem describes the incident as follows:
"On 4 January 2009, at the start of the ground phase of operation Cast Lead, about 100 members of the extended a-Samuni family were huddled inside one house in the a-Zeitun neighborhood of Gaza City. The next morning, an Israeli airstrike killed 21 people inside the house, including 9 children and 10 women, and injured dozens of other family members. During the next two days, the army refused access to medical teams, in spite of being informed of the terrible outcome by family members who managed to escape the bombed home and human rights and humanitarian organizations, including B'Tselem. When medics managed to get to site, they found four small children next to their dead mothers in one of the houses, and evacuated several wounded people. The army refused permission to evacuate the bodies and they remained in the rubble for a further two weeks."
Referring to their support for a Unit of the Givati Brigade the Steinmetz website states "During Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip, the Foundation helped the Unit purchase complementary equipment as well as visited and cared for the wounded soldiers."
Diamonds that are generating revenue used to fund a regime guilty of war crimes are de-facto blood diamonds.
We call on De-Beers to show respect for the surviving victims of the diamond-funded Givati Brigade's actions in Gaza who have been left bereaved, maimed and traumatised and withdraw the offending display immediately.
3 – Steinmetz Foundation Website
The Foundation has "adopted" Tzabar Unit of the Israeli Defense Forces’ Givati Brigade. The Foundation fosters a close relationship with the commanders and their soldiers, helps the brigade organize evening events, buys equipment for end-of-course ceremonies and gives aid to needy soldiers. During Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip, the Foundation helped the Unit purchase complementary equipment as well as visited and cared for the wounded soldiers.
4 – ICRC report
The ICRC/PRCS team found four small children next to their dead mothers in one of the houses. They were too weak to stand up on their own. One man was also found alive, too weak to stand up. In all there were at least 12 corpses lying on mattresses. In another house, the ICRC/PRCS rescue team found 15 other survivors of this attack including several wounded. In yet another house, they found an additional three corpses.
5 – Goldstone Report [PDF]- UN Human Rights Council Report of the Fact-Finding Mission of the Gaza Conflict (p159 – p166)
De-Beers, the diamond behemoth, is exploiting the celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in a vulgar and insensitive manner in order to promote their diamonds.
The company's decision to display a Forevermark Steinmetz Diamond at the Tower of London ignores the fact that the Steinmetz Diamond Group, through the Steinmetz Foundation, has "adopted" a Unit of the infamous Givati Brigade in the Israel military. The Israeli military stands accused of "serious war crimes and possible crimes against humanity" by the UN Human Rights Council.
The Givati Brigade was responsible for the one of the most appalling examples of gross human rights violations recorded during Israel's assault on the besieged residents of Gaza in January 2009. The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem describes the incident as follows:
"On 4 January 2009, at the start of the ground phase of operation Cast Lead, about 100 members of the extended a-Samuni family were huddled inside one house in the a-Zeitun neighborhood of Gaza City. The next morning, an Israeli airstrike killed 21 people inside the house, including 9 children and 10 women, and injured dozens of other family members. During the next two days, the army refused access to medical teams, in spite of being informed of the terrible outcome by family members who managed to escape the bombed home and human rights and humanitarian organizations, including B'Tselem. When medics managed to get to site, they found four small children next to their dead mothers in one of the houses, and evacuated several wounded people. The army refused permission to evacuate the bodies and they remained in the rubble for a further two weeks."
Referring to their support for a Unit of the Givati Brigade the Steinmetz website states "During Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip, the Foundation helped the Unit purchase complementary equipment as well as visited and cared for the wounded soldiers."
Diamonds that are generating revenue used to fund a regime guilty of war crimes are de-facto blood diamonds.
We call on De-Beers to show respect for the surviving victims of the diamond-funded Givati Brigade's actions in Gaza who have been left bereaved, maimed and traumatised and withdraw the offending display immediately.
1 may 2012
The Hamas Movement condemned Israel's decision to close its investigation of those responsible for massacring Al-Samouni family during its aggression against the Gaza Strip in 2009.
Its spokesman Fawzi Barhoum slammed the decision as a green light for Israeli soldiers to commit more atrocities against the Palestinians with impunity.
Spokesman Barhoum said the failure of the international community and the UN to take deterrent measures against Israel and its leaders encourages it to cover up its crimes and escape justice.
"Such decision will not deter us from continuing to expose the occupation's crimes and cornering it internationally, legally and officially until those responsible for committing crimes against our people are brought to trial," the spokesman stressed.
He also urged the international human rights organizations to start immediately legal moves against Israel.
For its part, the Palestinian center for human rights on Wednesday denounced the Israeli military's decision to close the case of the Samouni family without initiating prosecutions.
The center stated that the case of Samouni family encompasses many documented Israeli war crimes such as the premeditated killing of 27 civilians and the armed targeting of civilians and populated areas which led to the injury of 35 civilians without allowing them to receive medical treatment.
The center affirmed that on behalf of 62 Palestinian victims, it submitted a legal and civil complaint concerning the Samouni case to the Israeli occupation authority and provided it with important evidence in this regard, yet it did not receive any response from the Israeli side.
It also said that Israel's decision in this regard confirmed unequivocally that its investigation system is defective and not up to the international standards, and this is what the UN probe committee had also verified before.
"In view of the flaws inherent in this system, which has failed after three and a half years to level one charge for war crimes, the center believes that the Israeli legal system is used as a smokescreen to create illusions about the seriousness of investigations, although in fact it provides systematically a cover for large-scale violations against the international law," the human rights center emphasized.
The 2009 shelling of a house in Gaza killed more than 20 members of Samouni family, but Israel claimed Tuesday that what had happened was not a war crime and that the civilians had not been targeted purposefully.
Its spokesman Fawzi Barhoum slammed the decision as a green light for Israeli soldiers to commit more atrocities against the Palestinians with impunity.
Spokesman Barhoum said the failure of the international community and the UN to take deterrent measures against Israel and its leaders encourages it to cover up its crimes and escape justice.
"Such decision will not deter us from continuing to expose the occupation's crimes and cornering it internationally, legally and officially until those responsible for committing crimes against our people are brought to trial," the spokesman stressed.
He also urged the international human rights organizations to start immediately legal moves against Israel.
For its part, the Palestinian center for human rights on Wednesday denounced the Israeli military's decision to close the case of the Samouni family without initiating prosecutions.
The center stated that the case of Samouni family encompasses many documented Israeli war crimes such as the premeditated killing of 27 civilians and the armed targeting of civilians and populated areas which led to the injury of 35 civilians without allowing them to receive medical treatment.
The center affirmed that on behalf of 62 Palestinian victims, it submitted a legal and civil complaint concerning the Samouni case to the Israeli occupation authority and provided it with important evidence in this regard, yet it did not receive any response from the Israeli side.
It also said that Israel's decision in this regard confirmed unequivocally that its investigation system is defective and not up to the international standards, and this is what the UN probe committee had also verified before.
"In view of the flaws inherent in this system, which has failed after three and a half years to level one charge for war crimes, the center believes that the Israeli legal system is used as a smokescreen to create illusions about the seriousness of investigations, although in fact it provides systematically a cover for large-scale violations against the international law," the human rights center emphasized.
The 2009 shelling of a house in Gaza killed more than 20 members of Samouni family, but Israel claimed Tuesday that what had happened was not a war crime and that the civilians had not been targeted purposefully.
24 apr 2012
Israeli policeman sentenced to 8 months for killing Palestinian in cold-blood
Hazim Adel Abu Al Dab’at, 22
An Israeli court on Tuesday sentenced a policeman to eight months in jail for killing a Palestinian Jerusalemite youth while handcuffed.
The policeman agreed with prosecution on confessing to the crime and that it was accidental in return for an eight-month imprisonment term.
The indictment list said that the policeman fired at the youth after arresting him on 14 September 2010. It claimed that the shot was accidently fired while an eyewitness testified that the policeman insulted the youth before shooting him.
Hazem Abul Dabaat was killed after detaining him along with his two friends Amjad Shahin and Mohammed Shuweiki in one of the Tel Aviv streets.
Both Shahin and Shuweiki said that the Israeli police stopped their car and asked for their IDs before an altercation took place and the policeman fired at their friend while handcuffed and sitting on the ground.
Abul Dabaat family charged that the sentence was racist, adding that it was a cold-blooded murder.
An Israeli court on Tuesday sentenced a policeman to eight months in jail for killing a Palestinian Jerusalemite youth while handcuffed.
The policeman agreed with prosecution on confessing to the crime and that it was accidental in return for an eight-month imprisonment term.
The indictment list said that the policeman fired at the youth after arresting him on 14 September 2010. It claimed that the shot was accidently fired while an eyewitness testified that the policeman insulted the youth before shooting him.
Hazem Abul Dabaat was killed after detaining him along with his two friends Amjad Shahin and Mohammed Shuweiki in one of the Tel Aviv streets.
Both Shahin and Shuweiki said that the Israeli police stopped their car and asked for their IDs before an altercation took place and the policeman fired at their friend while handcuffed and sitting on the ground.
Abul Dabaat family charged that the sentence was racist, adding that it was a cold-blooded murder.
