The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) would like to express its great concern regarding the appropriation of Orient House in East Jerusalem by the Israeli occupation forces since August 10 and the bombing of the Palestinian Police Headquarters in Ramallah, as a retaliation act for the suicide bombing of a restaurant in Jerusalem on the previous day.

The FIDH recalls that Orient House is a symbol of Palestinian nationalism and of the Palestinian people's right to self determination. It is also a symbol of peace and the hopes for peace are therefore vanishing after its appropriation.

Even though the FIDH condemned the suicide bombing, it considers this retaliation act as not only unnecessary to Israeli's security, but also as a violation of Israel's obligation under international law, and in particular the IVth Geneva Convention of 1949 Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.

The FIDH strongly condemns such retaliation acts and urges the Israeli authorities to put an end to these practices, including extra-judicial executions, which can not contribute to Israel's security as they only lead to increasing the vicious circle of violence.

Additionally, the FIDH urges Israel to recognise the de jure applicability of the IVth Geneva Convention and to put an end to its violation of humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. It reaffirms the need for an international protection force to ensure respect of humanitarian law.

Without respect of international legitimacy and international humanitarian law, peace cannot prevail in this region.