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July 3rd, 2006
Joint Press Release GCMHP and Al-Mezan Condemn the Israeli Escalating Sonic Booms
Under the Israeli escalation of the comprehensive and severe siege imposed over the Gaza Strip, the mobilization of military vehicles alongside Gaza Strip borders and threats of raiding a wide military operation, resumption of assassination operations, carrying on the frequent shelling of vital facilities including: bridges, main roads connect between cities and the main electricity station, that lead to paralyzing providing the basic services for the civilian population. In addition, Israeli occupation forces intensively resumed the sonic booms over Gaza Strip and allowed the military jet plans to fly in low altitudes that terrifies the civilians. Gaza Community Mental Health Programme and Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights emphasis on the panic impacts on the citizens resulting from the sonic booms which are considered a collective punishment committed by Israeli occupation forces against civilians in Gaza Strip. This represents a war crime which excessively violates the principles of international law that prevent punishing and scaring the civilians as well as the collective punishment, particularly fourth Geneva convention that emphasis on protecting the civilians in time of war . Also, sonic booms represent a blatant violation for Human Rights Law, in particular International Conventions of Civil and Political Rights and Children's Rights. GCMHP and Al-Mezan also emphasis on that resumption of Israeli sonic booms and escalating this kind of raids aiming to create a state of mental incapacity that leads to difficulty in normal coping with the current incidents. This matter will have deep negative mental impacts represented in civilians' suffering such as: anxiety, fear and panic which affect negatively on the citizens lives. Needless to say that these mental impacts of the sonic booms are, undoubtedly, very harmful on all population, particularly the children who suffered and still suffer from the effects of the previous shelling attacks. As a result, this may lead to cognitive, emotional, and behavioral disorders, such as increasing of fear, anxiety, tension, and poor concentration, in addition, enuresis and developing aggressive practices and violence. However, the professional experience has shown that exposing to such incidents in childhood will leave psychological impact till adolescence and adulthood. It's worth mentioning that these supersonic booms affects on various classes of chronic disease patients, including: diabetic, cardiac, and hyper tension patients. As well as, they have negative impacts on elderly who, many of them, expressed their incapacity of walking or standing. In addition, the impacts of the sonic booms don't exclude the pregnant women who are very anxious toward the well being of their fetuses particularly after some of them exposed to abortion. In the time GCMHP and Al-Mezan condemn the Israeli judiciary systems and hold it responsible for the escalation and the resumption of the sonic booms by procrastinating in taking a decision on the issue. Needless to say that GCMHP and PHR have introduced a law-suit case to the Israeli High Court of Justice. The case is aiming to issue a sentence forcing the Israeli Government to stop the sonic booms over Gaza on November 2005. GCMHP and Al-Mezan call for Human Rights Organizations and all peace forces around the world to take firm positions against the escalating aggressions in the Palestinian territories , particularly sonic booms over Gaza Strip. They are also demanded to practice pressure on Israel to stop these crimes which harm the mental well being of the Palestinians and endanger the possibilities of security and stability in the region. As GCMHP and Al-Mezan condemn Israeli occupation forces continuous crimes, they emphasize that Israeli Government should be obliged to abide by the International Law. Also, they appeal to the international community for urgent intervention so as to stop war crimes committed against the civilians in the Palestinian Territories and ensure providing them with the necessity protection. Gaza Community Mental Health Programme
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