Statement by Ambassador Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, before the United Nations Security Council, Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestine Question, 23 July 2015:

Mr. President,

I congratulate New Zealand on its Presidency of the Security Council and thank you, Honorable Minister for Foreign Affairs Murray McCully, for presiding over this important debate, a reflection of your country’s responsible, principled position vis-à-vis this issue and the commitment to uphold your Security Council mandate and contribute to international peace and security.

We also reiterate our deep appreciation to the delegation of Malaysia for its skilled leadership of the Council in June, including the critical debate on children and armed conflict, and express appreciation for Malaysia’s efforts as Chair of the Security Council’s Working Group on this matter.

I also thank UN Special Coordinator and Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Mr. Nikolay Mladenov, for his briefing and his initial efforts in this important post. We reaffirm our support for his mandate and readiness to continue cooperation towards fulfillment of our common objectives, foremost among them securing a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace settlement. [Read more…]

9 June 2015 – Letter on the 48th Year of the Israeli Military Occupation

Excellency,

On 5 June, the Palestinian people somberly marked the 48th year of the Israeli military occupation.  As this belligerent foreign occupation of our land and subjugation of our people inconceivably approaches a half-century of duration, we call on the international community to affirm the illegality of the Israeli occupation, a cruel and devastating occupation that has gravely violated every provision of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (Fourth Geneva Convention), the body of international humanitarian law governing situations of foreign occupation.  That law stipulates that occupation is a temporary situation, not an indefinite situation imposed to facilitate the occupying Power’s unlawful oppression and forced displacement of the occupied civilian population and the colonization and de facto annexation of the occupied land. [Read more…]

29 January 2015 – Situation of Children in Palestine

Excellency,

I write to draw your attention and, through you, the attention of the international community to the extreme hardships and suffering being endured by the Palestinian people under occupation in the State of Palestine, as Israel, the occupying Power, persists with its gross human rights violations, collective punishment and breaches of international humanitarian law. At this time, we are compelled to highlight the critical condition of Palestinian children, who are being subjected to escalating repression and acts of aggression, in breach of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Fourth Geneva Convention and other provisions of international law, resulting in a tragic situation of widespread suffering, trauma and loss of childhoods.

In particular, the situation of Palestinian children detained and imprisoned by Israel, the occupying Power, is a matter of urgency requiring immediate attention and redress. The occupying forces continue to harass and attack Palestinian children in violent raids on towns, villages and refugee camps, at checkpoints and in peaceful demonstrations and continue to carry out pre-dawn raids into the homes of families, seizing children in the dead of night, intensifying the trauma for both child and parents. It is also a routine practice of Israel to detain Palestinian children for extended periods of time without access to parents or lawyers and to subject children to forced interrogations, leading to confessions made under duress, and to beatings, solitary confinement and other forms of psychological and physical torture as well as to military court trials.  Regarding the systematic trial of Palestinian children in Israeli military courts, a UNICEF February 2013 report, “Children in Israeli Military Detention: Observations and Recommendations” underscores that: “It is understood that this is the first and only juvenile military court in operation in the world”.  [Read more…]

25 August 2014 – More Death and Destruction by Israel, the occupying Power

Excellency,

I am compelled to again draw your attention to the horrific situation in the Occupied State of Palestine, as we enter the 51st day of the Israeli military aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. In the four days since my last letter to you, Israel, the occupying Power, has not relented with its airstrikes against densely-populated civilian areas in Gaza, intentionally killing and injuring more Palestinian civilians, destroying more homes and infrastructure and displacing hundreds of more families in addition to the over half-million civilians already displaced by this Israeli onslaught against our people, the majority of whom continue to shelter in UNRWA schools. Specifically, the level of premeditated death and destruction imposed on the Gaza Strip by the occupying Power has surpassed merely immoral, inhumane behavior and constitutes war crimes and crimes against humanity, for which Israel must be fully held accountable.

The stories, photos and social media voices coming out of Gaza are horrifying and even those cannot convey the extent of the misery being deliberately inflicted by Israel on the Palestinian civilian population in grave breach of international humanitarian law.   The figures since the start of this barbaric aggression in early July now stand as follows: at least 2,130 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli occupying forces in Gaza, including an estimated 577 children, 261 women and 101 elderly people.

Almost 10,870 other Palestinians, most civilians, have been injured including some 3,300 children, more than 2,000 women and roughly 400 elderly people. Of those killed during the past seven weeks of Israeli bombardment of Gaza, it is estimated that 90 families have been decimated, with the killing of 530 family members. These shocking figures do not include the dead that have yet to be recovered from the rubble of destroyed homes and buildings struck by Israeli missiles and bombs and do not include those who continue to tragically die from the wounds sustained in Israeli attacks. [Read more…]

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

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…]

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

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…]

Statement by H.E. Ambassador Dr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, before the United Nations Security Council, Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestine Question, 29 April 2014, New York:

Madame President,

At the outset, I congratulate Nigeria on its Presidency of the Security Council under your wise and able leadership. We also express appreciation for Luxembourg’s skilled leadership of the Council in March.

I thank Mr. Robert Serry, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, for his briefing to the Council.

Madame President,

Since the Security Council’s last debate on this issue, there have been many developments on the ground and in the political process.  In official letters, we have alerted the Council to the rising tensions and the situation’s deterioration due to Israel’s persistent violations and intransigence in negotiations. We appealed to the Council and the international community to uphold their responsibilities, stressing the criticalness of the hour to salvage the two-State solution on the basis of the pre-1967 borders and the longstanding parameters enshrined in the relevant United Nations resolutions, Madrid Principles, Arab Peace Initiative and Quartet Roadmap. [Read more…]

19 December 2013 – Statement Dedicated to the Life and Memory of His Excellency Nelson Mandela

Statement by H.E. Ambassador Dr. Rivad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, before the 68m Session of the United Nations General Assembly’s Special Meeting Dedicated to the Life and Memory of His Excellency Nelson  Mandela, 19 December 2013:

Check against delivery

Mr. President,

It was with profound sadness that the people of the State of Palestine learned of the passing of His Excellency Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela on Thursday, 5 December 2013. Along with the rest of the world, the leadership and the people of the State of Palestine mourn his passing and we express to our brothers and sisters in South Africa our deepest sympathies during this most difficult time. [Read more…]

12 December 2013 – Statement on Assistance to the Palestinian People

Statement by H.E. Ambassador Dr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, before the United Nations General Assembly, 68th Session, on agenda item 70(b) “Assistance to the Palestinian people”, 12 December 2013:                                         

 (Check against delivery)

Mr. President,

We meet today to consider the issue of the strengthening of the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance, including assistance to the Palestinian people, a people who have been suffering for many decades from occupation and the denial of the exercise of their inalienable rights.

The international community has determined that assistance to the Palestinian people is a vital element and collective responsibility in the efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.  Here, I extend, on behalf of the State of Palestine and the Palestinian people, our profound gratitude and appreciation to all peoples, Governments and international organizations that have provided financial support in the framework of this assistance, which is being undertaken through concrete programs and projects that offer significant developmental support to the Palestinian people while also contributing to their resilience under adverse circumstances, giving them hope and assurances that they are not alone and that the world is supporting them in the quest for a brighter future for their children. [Read more…]

10 December 2013 – Rising Tensions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

Excellency,

We are compelled to draw your attention to the continuously rising tensions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem – the territory constituting the State of Palestine.

The Israeli occupying forces continue to use excessive force against Palestinian civilians, including against children and including against peaceful demonstrators, causing death and injury and destruction of property.  Moreover, Israel, the occupying Power, has been unrelenting in its pursuit of illegal colonization practices, with settlement and wall construction continuing unabated, and its imposition of collective punishment measures on the Palestinian people.  The negative impact of such Israeli breaches on the situation on the ground is vast, as reflected in the rising tensions, the deteriorating socio-economic conditions, and the deepening pessimism vis-à-vis the potential for the success of the peace negotiations and the viability of the two-State solution.  Day after day, rather than engendering trust and confidence in the political process, as Israel continues to raise serious doubts regarding its true intentions, undermining the process and compounding skepticism and anger among the Palestinian people. [Read more…]