News

UN report: Israel guilty of execution-style killings in Flotilla attack

Statements

AMP demands report findings be sent to International Criminal Court

(CHICAGO 09/28/2010) – The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) applauds a recent UN Human Rights Council report that found Israel guilty of execution-style murders and torture in its deadly May 31 attack against the Freedom Flotilla, a fleet of several vessels attempting to bring humanitarian and medical aid to the besieged people of Gaza.

 

AMP demands report findings be sent to International Criminal Court

(CHICAGO 09/28/2010) – The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) applauds a recent UN Human Rights Council report that found Israel guilty of execution-style murders and torture in its deadly May 31 attack against the Freedom Flotilla, a fleet of several vessels attempting to bring humanitarian and medical aid to the besieged people of Gaza.

The report was the result of an independent investigation conducted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Using international humanitarian and human rights laws as its basis of study, the three-member fact-finding team found Israel responsible for “grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention,” and is guilty of “willful killing, torture or inhumane treatment, and willfully causing great suffering or serious injury.” Further more, the killings of at least six of the passengers were in a manner “consistent with arbitrary and summary execution.”

In addition, the report states Israel violated international human rights laws by depriving unarmed people the right to life; conducting torture and other cruel, degrading and inhumane treatment, denying the right to liberty and security, and denying the freedom of expression, among other violations.

The attack resulted in the deaths of nine unarmed, peaceful humanitarian activists – including one American citizen. Several were injured.  Furkan Doğan, 19, who held dual American and Turkish citizenships, was among the dead. The report recounts his last moments that began as he was filming Israeli commandos landing on the Mavi Marmara when he was hit by live fire.

“It appears that he (Doğan) was lying on the deck in a conscious, or semi-conscious, state for some time. In total Furkan received five bullet wounds, to the face, head, back thorax, left leg and foot. All of the entry wounds were on the back of his body, except for the face wound, which entered to the right of his nose. According to forensic analysis, tattooing around the wound in his face indicates that the shot was delivered at point blank range.”

“AMP lauds the careful and factual analysis of the fact-finding mission, which is based entirely upon applicable international laws,” said Dr. Hatem Bazian, AMP chairman and professor of Near Eastern and Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. “It is important that the international community continues to apply pressure so that these findings are forwarded to the ICC so Israel will be held accountable for what amounts to the murder and torture of innocent civilians.

AMP calls upon President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to demand justice for the death of American citizen Furkan and for all the Flotilla victims. As long as the U.S. remains silent on this matter, the U.S. will not be seen as an honest broker in the current Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.  The U.S.’ unconditional support of Israel weakens our credibility in the Arab and Muslim community globally and threatens our national security.