Dear Editor,
The current Israeli assault on Gaza, which has killed more than one hundred Palestinians, the vast majority of them innocent civilians, and the continued Israeli blockade of Gaza, are war crimes under international law.

The 1949 Geneva Conventions describe collective punishments against civilians as war crimes. Article 33 of the Convention states: 'No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed,' and 'collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited.' Article 147 of the Convention states: 'extensive destruction ... not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly' are grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and constitute war crimes.

In recent weeks, more than 100 innocent Palestinian men, women and children have been slaughtered by the Israeli military, as part of its policy of collective punishments, while the Israeli blockade of Gaza has led to serious shortages of fuel, water, medicines and foodstuffs.

For as long as Israel continues to engage in war crimes against Palestinian civilians, all those who respect human rights and justice for all should boycott Israeli produce just as they boycotted South African produce during the apartheid era.

Yours sincerely,
Dr Saber Elsafty,
Galway IPSC (Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign)
Bearna,
Co. na Gaillimhe

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