Amnesty: release all Gaza hostages, Palestinian detainees
Amnesty International called Feb. 28 for the immediate release of both Israeli and foreign civilians held hostage by Hamas and Palestinians arbitrarily detained by Israel. The organization said that the release of hostages and prisoners should be not conditional upon the result of the next phase of ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel. There are at least 59 hostages remaining in Gaza, the majority of whom are Israelis. Meanwhile, there are more than 4,000 Palestinians kept in detention in Israel without charge or trial, which Amnesty International calls a violation of international law.
Detention without charges or trial in Israel derives from the Unlawful Combatants Law, which was originally enacted in 2002 to allow the prolonged detention of two Lebanese nationals. After 2005, Israel has used this law to detain Gazans deemed to be national security threats for prolonged periods of time.
Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights states that no one "shall be subject to arbitrary arrest or detention." Additionally, the article states that some arrested or detained on a criminal charge is entitled to trial within a reasonable time or be released.
It its statement, Amnesty International also noted the apparent killings by Hamas of at least six hostages whose bodies were retrieved in August 2024. An Israeli forensic examination determined they had been shot at close range shortly before their remains were turned over.
The public parading of hostages by Hamas prior to being released was also condemned as being in violation of international law. More specifically, Article 3of the Geneva Conventions, "Conflicts not of an international character," states that acts against the personal dignity, "in particular humiliating and degrading treatment,” are prohibited.
Last week Egyptian authorities said that negotiations between Israel and Hamas have started on the next phase of ceasefire in Gaza, with the goal being the permanent end to the war, the return of all hostages held in captivity by Hamas, and the withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza. A return of deceased hostages would happen in the third phase of the negotiations.
From JURIST, Feb. 28. Us with permission.
See our last reports on the fate of the hostages and the Israeli detention state.
Victim families clash with guards at Knesset
Violence broke out in the Knesset on March 3 as guards used force to physically prevent bereaved families and relatives of hostages from entering the visitors' gallery to watch a debate on probing the October 7 disaster, including a speech by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
When 40 members of the October Council—which represents some 1,500 October 7 survivors, former hostages, and victims families—tried to ascend a stairwell leading to the gallery, they were pushed, hit and grabbed, sparking a brief scrum. (ToI)
UN, Arab states condemn Israel for blocking aid to Gaza
The UN and several Arab states condemned Israel on March 3 for blocking the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
UN relief chief Tom Fletcher called Israel's action "alarming," and a breach of international humanitarian law.
Egypt and Qatar, which helped mediate a ceasefire deal between Israel and Gaza to allow the exchange of hostages and delivery of aid, also released statements criticizing the blockage. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that starvation of civilians must not be used as a weapon of war. Egypt also termed the blockage a "flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement, international law and religious principles." (Jurist)