Archives for 14 May 2018

14 May 2018 – Israeli Killing of Palestinians and Rising Tensions in Palestine

Excellency,

I write to bring to your urgent and immediate attention to the horrific situation unfolding on the ground in the Occupied State of Palestine, including East Jerusalem, due to the escalation of Israel’s illegal actions, including targeted attacks against the Palestinian civilian population, and the mounting casualties and tensions.

In particular, the occupying Power continues to intensify its military attacks against the civilian population in the besieged Gaza Strip in grave breach of international law, including international humanitarian law and the relevant provisions on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. The level of death and injury caused by the Israeli occupying forces to Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip has surpassed merely immoral, inhumane and unlawful behavior but constitutes war crimes and crimes against humanity, for which Israel must be fully held accountable.

The international community must no longer allow for such carnage to be perpetrated against our people with impunity; our repeated pleas for international protection for the defenseless Palestinian people must no longer be ignored.  Our people are defenseless and in desperate and urgent need of international protection and the protection of international law, which is being grossly, egregiously and systematically violated by the occupying Power.

As we write this letter, more than 38 Palestinian civilians, including at least 6 children, have today been killed by the Israeli occupying forces, and more than 2,000 of civilians have been injured, many of them critically wounded by the barbaric forms of ammunition being deliberately used against them by the occupying Power. Tragically, this massacre raises the total number of Palestinians killed since the six-week Great March of Return began on 30 March to more than 80 civilians. [Read more…]