TIPH expelled from Hebron

February marked the 25th anniversary of the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre when twenty-nine people were killed by a far right Israeli settler in Hebron. On the 25th February 1994 Baruch Goldstein calmly entered the Cave of the Patriarchs and gunned down scores of Palestinians during worship.

In the aftermath of this heinous act, the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) was established as a neutral international force to observe and report alleged human rights abuses. Hebron remains one of the most tense areas affected by Israel’s occupation, and TIPH has played a key part in documenting over 40,000 cases of settler abuse. The marginal sense of security they gave Palestinians has now entirely gone.

Earlier this month Israel expelled the TIPH - meaning no international observers remain in the city. Chris Eijkemans, a local representative for Oxfam, calls the departure of TIPH “a dangerous green light for more violence”.

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Dear Minister, For the last 25 years the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) has played an essential role in bringing a modicum of security to Palestinians, who face daily violence and intimidation from Israeli illegal settlers and the IDF. The TIPH was set up in the aftermath of the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre when an Israeli settler, belonging to the extreme racist movement of Kahanists, murdered 29 Palestinian worshippers during Ramadan. Last month Benjamin Netanyahu and his party extend their hand of friendship to Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) – a political group that openly calls for the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and embraces Kahanism. In a further bid to win over the growing far right Israeli voter base, Netanyahu has also expelled the TIPH from Hebron. Since TIPH’s mandate began, they have documented and reported over 40,000 incidents of settler abuse directed at the local Palestinian population. Oxfam representative, Chris Eijkemans, calls the departure of TIPH “a dangerous green light for more violence”. Once again we have seen UN attempts to condemn Israel’s reckless actions – this time in reference to TIPH - being frustrated by Trump’s White House. The US is clearly unfit to act as a mediator in any future peace process, which makes it all the more important for the UK to take a robust stance and show real leadership in holding Israel accountable for its actions. This week the UNHCR commission of inquiry released a damning report into Israel’s response to the Great March of Return in Gaza. The commission found Israel guilty of the deliberate targeting of children, disabled people and journalists taking part in civilian protests. To date, over 250 Palestinians have been killed and 27,000 injured as they take part in largely peaceful demonstrations. The UK must hold Israel accountable for violations of international law and war crimes committed. With these points in mind: - What steps will you be taking, and what meaningful pressure will be applied to Israel, to ensure the TIPH are able to return to Hebron to carry out their essential mandate?  - What is the UK’s response to Netanyahu’s embrace of far right extremists and the prospect of Kahanists sitting in the Knesset? - Will the UK implement the recommendations of the UNHRC commission of inquiry and consider imposing individual sanctions, such as a travel ban or an assets freeze, on those responsible for human rights violations in Gaza? Furthermore, will the UK uphold its legal obligation as a third state actor to enforce international law and hold Israel accountable? At the very minimum the UK must end its complicity in Israeli crimes by implementing a two-way arms embargo. I look forward to hearing from you.

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TIPH expelled from Hebron