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21 August 2014 – Israeli Assassinations and Killing of Civilians

25 August 2014 by

Excellency,

In blatant contempt for the call reiterated yesterday by the United Nations Security Council for an immediate ceasefire, Israel, the occupying Power, continues its military airstrike attacks against the Gaza Strip, terrorizing the Palestinian civilian population as it wreaks further death, injury and destruction.  The Palestinian nation continues to grieve as death toll continues to rise and the lives of more innocent children, women, men and elderly persons are destroyed by this resumed Israeli onslaught.

Today, at least 29 more Palestinians have been deliberately and wantonly killed by the Israeli occupying forces in missile airstrikes, drone attacks and bombings on densely populated civilian areas. Israel has also resumed its illegal policy of targeted assassinations against Palestinians, boasting of its extrajudicial killing of several people in recent days in attacks that also killed many civilians, including multiple members of families.  Here, it must be recalled that the willful killing and injury of persons is considered among the grave breaches defined in Article 147 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.  For all of these war crimes and crimes against humanity for which the occupying Power must be held accountable.

Among those killed today by the Israeli occupying forces were four people killed by an Israeli drone-fired missile as they dug graves to bury their relatives at the Sheikh Radwan cemetery in Gaza City.  The victims were Mohammed Talal Abu Nahl, Rami Abu Nahl, Haitham Tafesh, and Abed Talal Shioukh.  Another four people, all members of Al-Reefi family, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a garden near Al-Sunna Mosque in Gaza City.  The victims of this barbaric attack were Nasr Ziyad Al-Reefi and three children, Omar Nasr Al-Reefi, Abdallah Tareq Al-Reefi and Mohammed Ziyad Al-Reefi.  Today, the 9th member of Allouh family, Iman Allouh, died of wounds sustained in the attack on her family home yesterday, meeting the same tragic fate of many of the injured who have not survived these barbaric Israeli attacks. [Read more…]

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20 August 2014 – Israeli Airstrikes and Killing of Civilians

20 August 2014 by

Excellency,

Regrettably the cycle of violence has resumed and death and destruction are once again being meted out by Israel, the occupying Power, against the defenseless Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip.

As indicated in my letter to you of 12 August 2014, even throughout the entire period of the temporary humanitarian ceasefire and during the course of negotiations in Cairo for a permanent ceasefire agreement, Israel has never abided by the ceasefire, persisting with flying its war planes above the Gaza Strip and with attacks by land and sea and now resuming its military airstrikes.

Over the past 24 hours, the Israeli occupying forces have carried out more than 60 military airstrikes against densely populated civilian areas in Gaza, killing at least 24 Palestinians, including children and women, and injuring more than 110 people.  Among those murdered by Israel in this onslaught were 6 members of Al-Dalou family, including Mustafa Rabah Al-Dalou, age 14, his mother, Wafaa Hussein Al-Dalou, and Ahmad Rabah Al-Dalou, age 20 when Israeli warplanes struck their home in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City. Also killed in that strike were Widad Al-Deif, age 27, and her 7-month old baby, Ali. The occupying forces also bombed the home of Allouh family, killing 8 members of the family, including children, women and men, and injuring dozens of others.  The dead included Mohammed Allouh and his two brothers, Raafat and Ahmed, as well as the wife of Raafat and their four young children.  Also killed in Israeli airstrikes were a two-year old girl, Nour Mohammed Abu Hasira, in Al-Zeitoun neighborhood east of Gaza City and Mohammed Ahmed Al-Abeet, age 16, and Sahir Al-Abeet, age 11, near Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza. The intensity of the Israeli missile strikes and bombings has again flattened homes and more civilians are feared dead as rescue personnel continue attempts to recover bodies trapped under the rubble. [Read more…]

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12 August 2014 – بيان صحفي

18 August 2014 by

بعث السفيرالدكتور رياض منصور، المراقب الدائم لدولة فلسطين لدى الأمم المتحدة في نيويورك، رسائل متطابقة إلى الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة ورئيس مجلس الأمن (المملكة المتحدة) ورئيس الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة، حولمواصلة إسرائيل، السلطة القائمة بالاحتلال، انتهاكاتها للقانون الدولي، بما في ذلك القانون الإنساني الدولي والقانون الدولي لحقوق الإنسان، ذكر فيها أن الوضع خطير في دولة فلسطين المحتلة، وبخاصة في قطاع غزة حيث  يعاني السكان المدنيين الفلسطينيين تحت الحصار من كارثة إنسانية مروعة من جراء العدوان العسكري الإسرائيلي الذي اسفر حتى الأن عن استشهاد أكثر من 1940 فلسطيني، 1400 منهم من المدنيين، من بينهم 467 من الأطفال و243  من النساء و87 من كبار السن وجرح ما يقرب من 10،000 شخصا، من بينهم 3009 طفل على الأقل،  في  انتهاك صارخ للقانون الإنساني الدولي  الذي يحظر، ضمن جملة أمور، القتل العمد، وتعمد إحداث آلام شديدة أو الإضرار الخطير بالسلامة البدنية أو الصحية للأشخاص المحميين.  كما تسبب العدوان في دمار واسع النطاق في المنازل والهياكل الأساسية، مثل محطة توليد [Read more…]

Filed Under: Press Releases

12 August 2014 – Israeli Brutal Actions and Violations Against the Palestinian People

18 August 2014 by

Excellency,

The situation in the Occupied State of Palestine, including East Jerusalem, remains extremely critical as Israel, the occupying Power, persists with its violations of international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, causing the continued deterioration of the situation in all aspects, including the continued suffering of the Palestinian people under its occupation, and further deepening despair and inflaming heightened tensions.

As you are well aware, the situation is particularly grave in the Gaza Strip, where the Palestinian civilian population who have already suffered inordinately under Israel’s 8-year inhumane blockade is finding it nearly impossible to cope with the massive humanitarian disaster inflicted upon them by the 36-day Israeli military onslaught. In this regard, despite the fragile new 72-hour ceasefire that went into force midnight on Monday, 11 August  in Gaza, the massive devastation, destruction, trauma and havoc wreaked by the occupying Power will make the task of recovery in the next coming days and weeks a grueling and painful experience.  [Read more…]

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4 August 2014 – 28th Day of Israel’s Aggression Against the Palestinian People

18 August 2014 by

Excellency,

The Palestinian death toll continues to rise as Israel, the occupying Power, continues to trap, traumatize and terrorize the more than 1.8 million Palestinians living in the besieged Gaza Strip. The tragic and continuous climb in the number of casualties is reflective of the brutality and indiscriminate nature of Israel’s ongoing onslaught against the Palestinian population in Occupied Gaza, in grave breach of all norms and rules of international humanitarian law and human rights law. The list of war crimes, crimes against humanity and acts of State terrorism by the occupying Power against the defenseless Palestinian civilians captive under its occupation is growing by the minute. It goes without saying that the Palestinian leadership, on behalf of its people, will exert every possible effort to ensure that those responsible for these heinous crimes will be held accountable and brought to justice.  [Read more…]

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6 August 2014 – بيان صحفي

17 August 2014 by

بناء على طلب المجموعة العربية عقدت الجمعية العامة للأمم المتحدة جلسة عامة غير رسمية حول الوضع في قطاع غزة استمعت خلالها إلى إحاطات من الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة، بان كي مون، والمفوض السامي لحقوق الإنسان، نافانايثم بيلاي، والمفوض العام لوكالة الأونروا، بيير كراهينبول، والمنسق الخاص لعملية السلام في الشرق الأوسط، روبرت سيري، والأمين العام المساعد للشؤون الإنسانية ومنسق الإغاثة في حالات الطوارئ،  كيونغ وا كانغ، حول الوضع الخطير والمأساوي في قطاع غزة من جراء العدوان الإسرائيلي الإجرامي والتدميري الأخير ضد السكان المدنيين الفلسطينيين في غزة.

والقى السفير الدكتور رياض منصور، المراقب الدائم لدولة فلسطين لدى الأمم المتحدة في نيويورك، كلمة أعرب فيها عن امتنان وتقدير الشعب الفلسطيني وقيادته للجهود الدؤوبة التي تبذلها وكالات الأمم المتحدة والمنظمات الانسانية للتخفيف من حدة الظروف الكارثية في قطاع غزة ومن معاناة السكان المدنيين الفلسطينيين،  بما في ذلك تقديم المساعدات الطارئة  وزيادة الوعي الدولي حول الانتهاكات الجسيمة لحقوق الإنسان وللقانون الإنساني الدولي والجرائم التي ترتكبها إسرائيل مع الافلات من العقاب. وأضاف ان إفلات إسرائيل من العقاب وغياب الإرادة السياسية من جانب المجتمع الدولي لضمان المساءلة ولمعالجة الأزمة أضر بمصداقية الأمم المتحدة وقوض القانون الدولي وسمح باستمرار معاناة المدنيين الفلسطينيين لفترة طويلة  وعزز من اعتقاد إسرائيل بأنها دولة فوق القانون وبمنأى عن العقاب، حتى عندما ترتكب جرائم حرب وتهدد
السلم والأمن الدوليين [Read more…]

Filed Under: Press Releases

1 August 2014 – Israeli Aggression and Collapse of Humanitarian Ceasefire

05 August 2014 by

Excellency,

It is with deep regret and strongest condemnation that I must inform you that, despite the efforts made for and the assurances given regarding the 72-hour humanitarian cease-fire that was jointly announced last night by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United States Secretary of State John Kerry, Israel, the occupying Power, has continued with its killing spree against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, killing today more than 130 people, including many children and women.  At least 28 more bodies have been recovered from under the rubble of Palestinian homes, adding to the escalating toll of death.

Although the ceasefire was to go into effect today at 8:00am (Palestine time), the situation on the ground has further unraveled as the Israeli occupying forces have persisted with the wanton killing of civilians and the destruction of civilian homes and properties, particular in the south of Gaza in Rafah and Khan Younis, and the Israeli government has issued threats of more “crushing” reprisals.  Among those murdered today by the occupying forces were 9 people, all from the same family (Al-Farra family) who were killed in their home in Khan Younis by Israeli tank shelling. Just hours after the above took place, the occupying Power, declared that the ceasefire was effectively over due to the claimed capture of an Israeli occupying soldier in Gaza. Here, it must be noted that, even after the occupying Power declared the cease fire to be over, the Palestinian side in its entirety, reaffirmed their respect for the ceasefire and President Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed his commitment to dispatch a delegation representing all Palestinians, to head to Cairo to engage in discussions to negotiate a durable, comprehensive ceasefire to bring an end to this horrific violence and to lift the siege of Gaza and address the longstanding, underlying causes of the current crisis. [Read more…]

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30 July 2014 – Israeli War Crimes in Gaza

05 August 2014 by

Excellency,

It is with A humanitarian ceasefire of 72 hours was supposed to begin today at 8:00 AM. Israel, the occupying power, continued its military operations in several areas, including in Rafah, where Israel killed at least 35 Palestinians and injured 100. Right before the ceasefire Israel killed at least 16 Palestinians, as right after the ceasefire took place 4 Palestinians (all of them civilians) were killed by Israeli Forces. It is estimated that 1469 Palestinians were killed and 8400 injured by Israeli Forces before the Rafah massacre.  At least 40 Palestinians were killed after the ceasefire took place. The humanitarian crisis is all over the Gaza Strip, and in particular the eastern side that has been occupied by Israeli Forces (44% of the total size of the Gaza Strip). Effects of Israeli bombardments are reflected in the lack of drinking water and the complete or partial interruption of electricity. Hospitals and medical centers continue to be targeted by Israeli forces. UN buildings sheltering refugees continued to be threatened by Israeli Forces, as well as the Roman Catholic Church in Gaza and other centers hosting refugees.  Over 250,000 people have been forcibly displaced. [Read more…]

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25 July 2014 – Israeli Attacks in the Gaza Strip and West Bank

30 July 2014 by

Excellency,

On this 18th day of the Israeli military aggression against the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian death toll has climbed to more than 840 people, including at least 190 children and 40 elderly persons, and more than 5,300 Palestinians have been injured.

More than 160,000 Palestinian civilians have been displaced as desperate civilians continue to flee destroyed homes and neighborhoods and fear has impelled the majority of these civilians to seek refuge in United Nations schools and facilities as the Israeli attacks continue by air, land and sea. Using all means of heavy weaponry, the Israeli occupying forces are causing human devastation as well as massive destruction of civilian properties, including homes, hospitals and schools, and infrastructure, with more than 1 million people now affected by the destruction of electricity, water and sanitation networks.  Moreover, UN premises have not been immune from this Israeli campaign of wanton destruction, as shown by the attack yesterday on an UNRWA elementary school in Beit Hanoun, which claimed the lives of at least 17 Palestinian civilians.  [Read more…]

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28 July 2014 – Policy Statement, State of Palestine Ministry of Foreign Affairs

28 July 2014 by
Palestine continues to struggle with mourning, grief, and loss. However, The Palestinian people remain proud, refusing to surrender to humiliation, murder, and wanton destruction that is borne out of racism and fueled by a resounding international failure of morals and responsibility.
More than 1036 Palestinian lives have been stolen; thousands others have been crushed by injury, grief and loss. Nearly 300 children are among the Palestinians killed during the Israeli occupation’s ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and across the Occupied Palestinian Territory. On average, a Palestinian child is killed every two hours.
By all measures, this is a human tragedy and it continues. At least 150 bodies have been recovered so far in the ongoing search in several neighborhoods that have been reduced to rubble. The scenes of devastation, destruction, and wholesale death stand testament to the disgraceful failure of the international community to protect and uphold the principles and values it claims to stand for.

[Read more…]

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