Switzerland: “Israel” violating international law in Gaza

Source: Daily Star, 05-7-2006
The international community continued Tuesday to condemn an "Israeli" invasion of the Gaza Strip, with Switzerland accusing "Israel" of breaking humanitarian law by inflicting "collective punishment" on the Palestinians. The Geneva Conventions, setting out rules of armed conflict, are housed in Switzerland. It is the Swiss government`s responsibility to convene and host conferences when changes are needed.
"A number of actions by the "Israeli" Army in their offensive against the Gaza Strip have violated the principle of proportionality ... and are to be seen as forms of collective punishment, which is forbidden," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
It said there was "no doubt" that "Israel" had not taken the necessary precautions required of it under international law to protect the civilian population and infrastructure.
The destruction of a power station, supplying 43 percent of the Gaza Strip`s electricity, the attack on the office of the Palestinian prime minister and the arbitrary arrests of large numbers of democratically elected legislators could not be justified, the Swiss ministry added.
The statement appealed to Palestinian abductors of an "Israeli" soldier to treat him humanely. It said that any measures "Israel" undertook to release him must be in line with international humanitarian law.
Iran, meanwhile, called for international pressure on "Israel" to halt the violence in the Palestinian territories.
"We believe international pressure should be applied from all sides against these ["Israeli"] assaults in order to stop them and lead to the release of Palestinian officials," Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said.
He urged Islamic countries to show a "serious response" in order to stop the violence in the Gaza Strip.