The IRCT (Det Internationale Rehabiliteringsråd for Torturofre) Monday condemned Israeli use of excessive force in attacking an aid convoy bound for Gaza, leading to significant loss of life among human rights defenders.
“That the flotilla of aid ships was not only blocked from delivering aid, but was attacked in such a brutal way by Israeli forces serves to further highlight the country’s disrespect for human rights and international law and the effect this has on the residents of Gaza and the West Bank”, the Copenhagen-based council stated in a press release.
“We stand in solidarity with our member centres in Gaza – the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP) – who have cancelled their 20th anniversary celebrations due today in light of the earlier atrocity – and Jesoor Centre”.
“We stand in solidarity with their staff who continue to carry out their crucial work in continuing to assist the victims of torture in spite of the severe hardships they are forced to endure as a result of the illegal blockade of Gaza by Israel and Egypt”.
The IRCT echoes the request for an immediate inquiry made by the EU High Represen-tative for Foreign Affairs and others.
At the same time the council calls on the international community to bear in mind the lessons from previous in-quiries such as that led by Judge Richard Goldstone into the 2008 / 2009 which proved prior Israeli violations of human rights law and humanitarian law.
Kilde: Pressemelding fra IRCT, som er samarbejdsorgan for anti-torturcentre verden over
