Gaza, May 02: Since the beginning of this year, Egyptian authorities have “deliberately” gassed 52 Palestinians to death in border tunnels, a report says.
The Palestinian Human Rights Foundation (PHRF) reported Friday that the Palestinian residents “were gassed deliberately,” while trying to bring in food, medicine and essential supplies not found in the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli siege.
The PHRF said that evidence and circumstances indicate that the Egyptians have committed a serious breach of law. International Law forbids gassing civilian areas and considers the act as a premeditated crime.
Article VIII of the basic law of the International Criminal Court states that blockading a region is considered war crime, the rights group said.
“The Egyptian government must act against such violations and stop being part of the unjust and illegal Israeli siege,” the PHRF said in a statement.
The cross-border tunnels — also known as Gaza feeding tubes — are the last resort for the 1.5 million Palestinians living in dire conditions under the strict Israeli siege, which is in effect for three years.
The PHRF called on Egypt to permanently open the Rafah border crossing and allow the entry of medicine, medical supplies, food and all essential supplies.
———Agencies