MADRID, Spain — Both Jewish Israelis and Palestinians live in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) today. Roughly 6.8 million Palestinians occupy the OPT, which includes the areas of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government aims to ensure that Jewish Israelis maintain control across Israel and the OPT. In October 2020, the Israeli magistrate court ruled in favor of Israeli settlers to evict Palestinian families and take over their homes. Over the years, Israel has pursued a policy of ethnic supremacy, violating Palestinian human rights and encouraging Palestinian oppression.
The Palestinian Oppression in Israel
From 1967 until the present day, Israel has held military forces in the OTP. The Palestinian oppression in the territory has led to crimes against humanity and fundamental deprivations. International Criminal Law states that the invasion of land and prosecution of Palestinians equates to discrimination and repression, which ultimately amounts to persecution.
The Israeli government intends to maintain the OPT under its mandate. Israeli authorities have created a policy that aims to maximize Jewish Israeli control over land, pushing Palestinians into dense, under-served areas and restricting their access to land and housing. Palestinian oppression in the West Bank and Gaza has increased alarmingly due to segregation and discrimination.
Inhumane acts in the OPT, such as the confiscation of Palestinian land, have forced thousands of Palestinians to leave their homes under inhumane conditions. These situations have led to an increase in poverty and the deprivation of legal residence for Palestinians. Roughly 72% of Palestinian families in Jerusalem live under the poverty line. Palestinian oppression has become aggressive and violent. Excessive use of force has killed children and adults, imposing an imminent threat to life. Overall, the Israeli government has systematically discriminated against Palestinians inside state borders.
Human Rights Watch Report
A report by the Human Rights Watch (HRW) assesses whether acts and policies that Israeli authorities have implemented amount to international law crimes of apartheid or persecution. The HRW concludes that the Israeli government has displayed intention for Jewish Israelis to dominate over Palestinians across Israel and the OPT. Furthermore, the HRW concludes that Palestinians have also been systematically oppressed and inhumane acts have been committed against them. These three elements collectively amount to the crime of apartheid.
The HRW also finds that acts of Israeli authorities amount to persecution, a grave crime against humanity. This finding is based on discriminatory acts such as the confiscation of privately owned land, restricting Palestinian building and living area rights, the denial of residency rights and limitations on the freedom of movement and other basic civil rights. For example, in East Jerusalem, residency rights are guaranteed to Jewish Israelis but are conditional and revocable for Palestinians. Such policies equate to the deprivation of fundamental rights simply because of identifying as Palestinian and not Jewish Israeli.
Human Rights Watch’s Recommendations
The HRW has provided several recommendations to Israel to remedy the situation. The organization directs that Israel end the oppression and persecution that privileges Jewish Israelis over Palestinians. This starts with ending discriminatory policies with regard to residency, freedom of movement, citizenship and access to basic resources. The HRW further calls on Israel to respect and uphold the fundamental human rights of the Palestinian people. It also asks Israel to ratify the Rome Statute and amend its national law to include crimes against humanity such as persecution and apartheid.
The emerging problem of the Palestinian invasion has created international awareness. Even ordinary individuals can play a role in contributing to the cause by advocating for the rights of Palestinians on social media. As a global leader, intervention and support from the United States can play a significant role in upholding and protecting the rights of Palestinians. In light of these grave human rights violations, the international community as a whole is called on to protect vulnerable Palestinians in Israel.
– Ainara Ruano Cervantes
Photo: Flickr