International Solidarity Movement!
 

It is a group of peace activists from different nationalities undertaking nonviolent direct action to thwart Israeli military violence against civilians and their property in the occupied Arab territories. Recently Israeli occupation troops demanded from all peace atavists to fill a form declaring that they have "no association with the organization known International Solidarity Movement" describing this activity as "criminal." The Israeli application states: "I am aware of the risks involved and accept that the Government of the State of Israel and its organs cannot be held responsible for death, injury and/or damage/loss of property which may be incurred as a result of military activity." This illegal new measure was viewed as aiming to bar all internationals from key areas of Gaza.
Actually, peace advocate Internationals have not been spared the Israeli bullets. For example, between March 16th and May 2nd. According to Internet sources, American ISM activist Rachel Corrie was crushed by an Israeli bulldozer in Rafah on March 16th. British ISM activist Tom Hurndall was left clinically dead after being shot in Rafah on April 12th. And British journalist James Miller was shot and killed in Rafah on May 2nd. Yet, the said Israeli should-be-filled application is largely held as in fundamental human rights or attempt to abrogate them have no validity under international law, and are an illegal form of coercion. In this case, Articles 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights state that:"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers... Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association."

Additionally, the Fourth Geneva Convention mandates Israel, as the Occupying Power, to protect civilians and be solely responsible for the actions of its forces in the occupied territories. Human rights, as stated in the first sentence of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are "inalienable", a key concept in international law. Webster's dictionary defines "inalienable" as "incapable of being alienated, surrendered, or transferred to another; not alienable; as, in inalienable birthright." As such, regardless of what international visitors may sign, international law does not recognize these declarations as binding or in any way excusing Israel from its legal responsibilities. Amnesty International delegate after its delegates refused to sign the waver in order to enter Gaza stated: "The organization is categorically opposed to any attempt to get people to sign away their rights. The signing of 'waivers' does not absolve the Israeli army of its responsibility in any way, nor the Israeli authorities of their duties to ensure that armed forces respect human rights in all circumstances... The organization is concerned that one aim of these new and drastic restrictions is to prevent outside monitoring and scrutiny of the conduct of the Israeli army. It is also concerned that these restrictions will lead to more killings in Gaza and calls on the army to immediately end the use of excessive and unlawful force."

It is hard to fathom what Israel thinks it can achieve by insisting that international visitors sign this bizarre and legalistic form in order to enter a geographic region where Israel itself has typically acted in utter violation of all commonly understood interpretations of international human rights law, to say nothing of universal notions of morality. If Israel bulldozes another Rachel Corrie, will we accept her murder just because the next Rachel Corrie signed a declaration upon entry to Gaza that stated that she would not stand in front of bulldozers? When Israel shoots its next Tom Hurndall or James Miller, will we nod understandingly simply because point four on the declaration states that "Foreign nationals are strongly advised to stay well clear of military activity?" Of course not. Instead of addressing any of the root causes that fuel the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, such as ending the violence of Israel's military occupation against Palestinian civilians, Israel prefers instead to remove more of the eyewitnesses who can give us an honest account of what life on the ground in southern Gaza is like.

According to the Electronic Intifada, 1 May 2003, On 20 March 2003, Israeli peace activist Billie Moskona-Lerman spent a night with two activists from the International Solidarity Movement who were acting as human shields in the HOME of a Palestinian family in Rafah: "It was at 7.30 that I went with Laura and Joe to stay the night in the house of Muhammad Jamil Kushta, the first house fronting the IDF position on the Egyptian border, an ill-fated house... Rains of ammunition, bullets came down on us on that one single night. A single night, for me. The shooting went on continuously from 1.30 to 4.15, near the first light. Only then it calmed down." At one point during the night, Billie's host Muhammad notes, "You hear it so close, because they are shooting at the wall near us." Their subsequent exchange gives us a clear and disturbing picture of life for Palestinians in Rafah: "So they never hit your house itself?" I ask him with an enormous burst of hope.

"Oh, sometimes they do. Look at the bullet holes". I raise my head and look to the sides. The ceiling is fool of holes, the side walls are cut up. So is the kitchen wall near the tap, near the table, in the toilet, one centimeter from the children's beds. Some of the holes have been filled up. Every night, once the shooting ends, Jamil closes the bullet holes with white cement. The walls are patchwork, and if you dare approach the window you can see that Jamil and Nora's HOME is surrounded by ruins on all sides. Source: "'I was a human shield': An Israeli visits ISM in Rafah", Billie Moskona-Lerman, Live from Palestine/The Electronic Intifada, 1 May 2003

 

Mohamad Abdo Al Ibrahim

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