Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: Sonic booms constitute collective punishment

Sonic booms constitute collective punishment
During its operation in the Gaza Strip following the abduction of Cpl.
Gilad Shalit, Israeli air force jets have carried out low-altitude sorties
over the Gaza Strip in which they intentionally cause powerful sonic
booms. The air force has used sonic booms a number of times since the
completion of the Gaza disengagement plan. In the present operation, the
air force has caused three or four sonic-boom sorties a night. 
The sole purpose of these sorties is to prevent the residents from
sleeping and to create an ongoing sense of fear and anxiety. Regarding the
sonic booms, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that, "thousands of residents
in southern Israel live in fear and discomfort, so I gave instructions
that nobody will sleep at night in the meantime in Gaza ." The clear
intention of the practice is to pressure the Palestinian Authority and the
armed Palestinian organizations by harming the entire civilian population. 
Children, in particular, suffer from the sonic booms. In the past, the
Gaza Community Mental Health Center reported that the supersonic sorties
caused fear among many children, which led to a loss of concentration,
loss of appetite, bedwetting, and other disorders. The Center also
reported that sonic booms caused headaches, stomach aches, shortness of
breath, and other physical effects that appeared among both children and
adults. Sonic booms also cause property damage, primarily shattered
windows. 
The use of sonic booms flagrantly breaches a number of provisions of
international humanitarian law. The most significant provision is the
prohibition on collective punishment. Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva
Convention, which is intended to protect civilians in time of war,
categorically states that "Collective penalties and likewise all measures
of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited." The article also states
that, "Reprisals against protected persons and their property are
prohibited." Air force supersonic sorties also breach the principle of
distinction, a central pillar of humanitarian law, which forbids the
warring sides to direct their attacks against civilians. 
In November 2005 , Physicians for Human Rights- Israel and the Gaza
Community Mental Health Center appealed to the  Israeli H igh  C ourt of 
J ustice against the use of sonic booms. The appeal is still pending.
PHR-Israel plans to file an additional appeal on the topic in the coming
days. 
B'Tselem calls for an immediate halt to the use of the sonic booms
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 that nobody will sleep at night in the meantime in Gaza ." The clear
c'č da meravigliarsi?
Come mi faceva notare correttamente qualcuno, scopo del terrorismo č
terrorizzare.
Tra alcune pratiche tipicamente terroristiche in uso tra militari (o
servizi) israeliani, questa č una delle piů odiose e disprezzabili.