US/Israel in Cahoots Against Palestinians and Regional Peace

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Masquerading as democratic, fascist regimes run both countries. 

Hostile to peace, equity, justice and the rule of law, they're unchallenged by the world community and UN secretary general — accomplices through inaction.

While Israel prepares for illegal annexation of settlements and the Jordan Valley, blockade and terror-bombing of Gaza goes on at its discretion, Netanyahu threatening war on the Strip in his latest hostile remarks.

On Monday, he threatened two million Gazans with a "crushing blow." Calling his regime "powerful," he claimed it hasn't unleashed its full capabilities.

They include nuclear, chemical, biological, and other banned weapons.

Hardline regime war minister Naftali Bennett warned about "carry(ing) out a lethal attack on the Strip," adding:

"No one will be immune from Israel's future actions. (They'll) differ from those taken in the past," vowing to "exert a heavy price" on defenseless/besieged Gazans threatening no one.

Hamas Spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called Netanyahu's threats an "attempt…to distract (from) his crimes in the West Bank and domestic crisis" — following indictment for bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Over the weekend, Israeli warplanes terror-bombed Gaza, while IDF tanks shelled the Strip cross-border — in response to a rocket fired by an unknown party that landed in an open area, causing no deaths, injuries or damage.

Last week, Israeli security forces killed three Palestinian teens in cold blood, wounding eight others in Jenin and Hebron, a Palestinian policeman lethally shot at the same time — all of the above in a 24-hour period.

Israeli soldiers and other security forces are licensed to kill Palestinians with impunity.

The IDF operates the same way by terror-bombing Gaza and Syria — on the phony pretext of protecting Israeli national security, its only threats invented, not real.

Last week, Israel reduced Gaza's fishing zone in its own waters to 10 nautical miles.

Gazan fishermen are routinely assaulted and arrested, their vessels and equipment confiscated for the "crime" of fishing.

On Sunday, the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) released a report on how Israel prevents seriously ill and injured Gazans from seeking treatment abroad that's unavailable in the Strip.

Under blockade, Gaza's health sector greatly deteriorated. Hundreds of medical machines and other equipment are out of service, around half of vital medicines and one-fourth of medical disposables unavailable.

Gazans seeking vital treatment abroad are most often denied. When approved, it's after long delays, making serious illnesses and injuries worse.

PCHR: "Denying patients treatment under the (phony) pretext that it is available in the Gaza Strip or by claiming that their diseases do not pose threat to their lives; denying patients travel without clarifying the reason; denying patients travel for treatment under pretext a related family member is in violation of Israeli law; arrest if patients and their companions, blackmailing (them to get) exit permits for treatment," and other toughness reveals Israeli contempt for the lives and health of Gazans in need.

Thousands of Gazans are denied permission to seek medical treatment abroad for "security reasons," ignoring requests, delaying action, and other ways to collectively punish them — notably when vital care is needed.

Fourth Geneva, the 1977 Additional Protocol, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,  the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and other international laws guarantee the right of health for civilians, especially for the sick or injured.

PCHR explained that from 2008 - 2018, travel for over 51,000 Gazan patients was obstructed.

Its "report is based upon testimonies of specialists at MOH (Ministry of Health) and its Treatment Abroad Department, the Palestinian General Authority For Civil Affairs (GACA), international non-governmental organizations (INGO) working in the health sector, as well as testimonials by Gaza patients and their families."

Countless numbers of Gazans suffer and die because of Israeli ruthlessness. 

Anyone attempting to leave the Strip without exit permit permission is subject to arrest and imprisonment, no matter how serious their health status.

Unjustifiable reasons for denying over 51,000 patients exit permits were as follows:

"» 7,491 for security reasons (4.1%);

» 5,570 received no reply (3.1%);

» 25,015 received delayed responses and put under study (13.9%);

» 2,138 required to change their companions (1.1%);

» 10,662 patients were delayed for various reasons, including awaiting results after the security interview with Israeli intelligence, classifying a patient's condition to concern the quality of their lives rather than being a matter of life or death, unsatisfactory application, requiring the patient to reschedule their appointment or requiring patients to submit a new application."

These actions are all about inflicting collective punishment, strictly forbidden under international law Israel breaches time and again with impunity.

Blockaded and isolated since 2007, Gazans are virtually imprisoned in their own homeland, their rights denied, their lives, health and welfare jeopardized by Israeli viciousness.

Ignored by the world community, there's no end to their suffering in prospect.

VISIT MY WEBSITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html