Antonio Segura, Gonzalo Boye, Raul Maillo,
Juan Moreno,Lawyer have a long experience in cases
concerning International Law and Humanitarian Law.
These lawyers are very known in Spain because of their
fight for human rights in Universal Jurisdiction.
The most known case was the one of Pinochet, who was
held in Great Britain for more than one year. Also they represented victims of torture in Guatemala; the case
of Jose Couso, the Spanish camera that was killed by
American soldiers in Bagdad, and many others like
Scilingo case or the bombing in Madrid 11M.
Their commitment with the victims around the world
make them being very known by human rights and
solidarity groups. Jointly with Palestinian Centre
for Human Righs, in behalf of it his Director
Raji Sourani, this lawsuit is the first in Spain and
several Human rights Associations have been
working together with the group of Lawyers for
more than two years now. After a long wait, the
24th of June was presented in the Audiencia Nacional
(National Courts) and we wait to see that justice and
moral compensation come to the victims, while the
perpetrators of such a crime are held to the justice.
The Spanish civil society (with groups like Arab Cause
Solidarity Committee and Al-Quds Asociation for
Solidarity with People in Arab Countries and many
others) jointly with other groups around the world
are working to make justice in Palestine, while, at the
same time, the governments leave aside their
obligations and act in an immoral and non political
way just trying to compensate economically the
Palestinians, without any considerations of their
political and international commitments. We are
happy to say that Spain join the group of countries,
whose tribunal had accepted cases against Israeli
militars, as Great Britain, Switzerland, Netherland,
United States or New Zealand. And we hope justice
to be make with the victims.
First lawsuit against Israeli soldiers in Spain.
Six survivors together with relatives of the victims
caused by a bomb launched by the Israeli Army
on July 22, 2002 against Gaza, will bring a lawsuit
in the Audiencia Nacional (National Court). Although
this is not the first time people have asked this Court
to deal with crimes against humanity, it is the first
time that the victims of an Israeli targeted attack
in the Palestinian territories have asked the Court
by themselves.
The lawsuit, 35 pages long, explains in detail why these events should be considered war crimes subject to universal jurisdiction: the attack was disproportionate.
One target: fifteen casualties.
Around midnight, an Israeli war plane launched a one ton bomb over the Gaza neighbourhood of Al Daraj. The target was Salah Shehadeh, a suspect HAMAS commander. The bomb destroyed his house and seven more at the same time. Thirty more people were also affected, fifteen died and one hundred and fifty sustained injuries of various degrees.
The lawsuit is against the Israeli Defence Minister, Benjamin Be-Eliezer, and six people under his orders.
The victims were told by an Israeli court that the attack was proportionate.
However, the international community considered it illegal and disproportionate, especially taking into account the sophisticated Israeli military technology.
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