{"id":180428,"date":"2008-01-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-11T21:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?p=180428"},"modified":"2019-03-11T21:01:17","modified_gmt":"2019-03-11T21:01:17","slug":"auto-insert-180428","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/auto-insert-180428\/","title":{"rendered":"Illegal Israeli actions in OPT\/Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip – Letter from Palestine"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Identical letters dated 15 January 2008 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the Â鶹APP addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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  War crimes are being committed against the Palestinian civilian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory by Israel, the occupying Power, which has never, despite any and all peace efforts, ceased its crimes and merciless human rights violations against the Palestinian people. In this regard, I regret to inform you that, in the 10 days since my last letter to you, the occupying Power has killed at least another 37 Palestinians, including several children. <\/p><\/div>\n

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  Even as we engage in direct bilateral negotiations in the fragile peace process resumed between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, the occupying Power, rather than promoting calm and undertaking confidence-building measures, has instead intensified its military campaign, spreading more death, destruction and terror among the civilian population, particularly in the Gaza Strip. Such illegal acts of aggression by the occupying Power poison the atmosphere, inevitably undermining peace efforts and fuelling the dreaded cycle of violence that has so long plagued our peoples. <\/p><\/div>\n

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  In the latest escalation, early today, 15 January 2008, the Israeli occupying forces launched a large-scale attack against civilian areas in Gaza City, targeting the Al-Zaitun and Al-Shujaiya neighbourhoods of the city. Occupying forces in tanks, armoured vehicles and bulldozers raged through the area under the cover of helicopter gunships and warplanes, killing at least 19 Palestinians, including a 65-year-old man, As’aad Issa Tafesh. Fifty other Palestinians were injured in the attacks, including an eight-year-old boy who has been critically wounded, and many of the wounded now in Gaza’s overburdened hospitals are reported to have lost limbs in the onslaught. In addition to using such deadly and indiscriminate force against the civilian population, the Israeli occupying forces also caused more damage to the area by bulldozing dozens of acres of farmlands, orchards and agricultural fields and destroying other civilian property. Such wilful killing of civilians and the wanton destruction of property constitute war crimes under the Fourth Geneva Convention, for which Israel, the occupying Power, must be held accountable. <\/p><\/div>\n

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  The international community must view this recent Israeli military assault against the Palestinian people with utmost seriousness, for the short and long-term consequences of this escalation of violence are far-ranging and could completely derail nascent peace efforts if not immediately ceased. The situation in the Gaza Strip is particularly grave. There, the Palestinian civilian population remains under a crippling siege and continues to suffer a humanitarian crisis that is greatly worsened by such illegal acts of violence and terror by the occupying Power. In addition to causing more suffering for the population and further destabilizing the situation on the ground in the Gaza Strip, Israel’s actions incite, provoke and ignite the cycle of violence we have been exerting all efforts to break. <\/p><\/div>\n

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  Military attacks, terror and aggression by the occupying Power against the civilian population under its occupation are totally incompatible with peacemaking. Peacemaking requires at the minimum a cessation of violations, respect for international law and efforts to build confidence and promote reconciliation. Peacemaking cannot survive in an environment where all kinds of grave breaches of the law are being committed by the occupying Power. The security pretext constantly used by Israel, the occupying Power, cannot justify the slaughter of innocent civilians and the systematic violation of their human rights. If Israel, the occupying Power, is never held accountable for these crimes, it will only be further emboldened to continue acting with impunity in its trampling of the law and its aggressions against the Palestinian people. The result will be more hardship and loss for the people and will gravely undermine the Palestinian Authority’s engagement in the peace process. <\/p><\/div>\n

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  The international community, including the Security Council, has clear responsibilities in this regard. Israel, the occupying Power, must be compelled to cease all violations against the Palestinian people and to respect international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention. The occupying Power must be urged to pursue the path of peace in good faith and, in addition to ceasing violations, to undertake real confidence-building measures to improve the situation on the ground and advance the peace process towards its ultimate goals of peace and security for both peoples. We are at a critical juncture that requires urgent efforts to prevent the further decline of the situation and to save the peace process from irreparable damage. All must shoulder their responsibilities. <\/p><\/div>\n

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  This letter is in follow-up to our previous 305 letters to you regarding the ongoing crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000. These letters, dated from 29 September 2000 (A\/55\/432-S\/2000\/921) to 4 January 2008 (A\/ES-10\/409 and Corr.1-S\/2008\/8 and Corr.1), constitute a basic record of the crimes being committed by Israel, the occupying Power, against the Palestinian people since September 2000. For all of these war crimes, State terrorism and systematic human rights violations committed against the Palestinian people, Israel, the occupying Power, must be held accountable and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. <\/p><\/div>\n

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  In follow-up to the above-mentioned letters, it is my deep regret to inform you that at least 37 more Palestinian civilians, including children, have been killed by the Israeli occupying forces, raising the total number of martyrs killed since September 2000 to 4,899 (the names of the martyrs that have been identified are listed in the annex to the present letter). <\/p><\/div>\n

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  I should be grateful if you would arrange to have the text of the present letter and its annex distributed as a document of the tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly, under agenda item 5, and of the Security Council. <\/p><\/div>\n

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(Signed<\/i>) Riyad Mansour<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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Ambassador<\/p><\/div>\n

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Permanent Observer<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Annex to the identical letters dated 15 January 2008 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the Â鶹APP addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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  <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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  <\/p><\/div>\n

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    Names of martyrs killed by the Israeli occupying forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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including East Jerusalem <\/strong><\/span>*<\/strong><\/span> <\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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(From Saturday, 5 January 2008 to Tuesday, 15 January 2008)<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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    Saturday, 5 January 2008<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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 <\/p><\/div>\n

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1.  Mohammad Ahmad Abu Odeh<\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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 <\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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    Sunday, 6 January 2008<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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2.  Iman Hamdan<\/p><\/div>\n

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3.   Ahmad Mohammad Khalaf<\/p><\/div>\n

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4.  Mahmoud Rabah Abed (19)<\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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5.   Muhannad Darghma<\/p><\/div>\n

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6.  Ziyad Abu Rukba (16)<\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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7.   Mahmoud Al-Rab’ei<\/p><\/div>\n

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   Monday, 7 January 2008 <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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  <\/p><\/div>\n

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8.   Fawwaz Awni Freihat (19)<\/p><\/div>\n

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9.  Bassem Ahmad Abu Mostafa<\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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10.   Maysaa’ Nimr Fanouna (19)<\/p><\/div>\n

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   Wednesday, 9 January 2008 <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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  <\/p><\/div>\n

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11.   Khadra Wahdan<\/p><\/div>\n

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12.  Mohammad Al-Kafarna<\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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13.   Amjad Abdel Dyem<\/p><\/div>\n

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   Saturday, 12 January 2008 <\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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  <\/p><\/div>\n

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14.   Ayed Sa’adallah Abu Abed<\/p><\/div>\n

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15.  Mansour Salah Al-Boraim (18) <\/p><\/div>\n

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   Sunday, 13 January 2008<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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 <\/p><\/div>\n

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16.  Nidal Al-Amoudi<\/p><\/div>\n

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17.   Maher Al-Mabhouh<\/p><\/div>\n

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18.  Hammouda Razqa<\/p><\/div>\n

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    Tuesday, 15 January 2008<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n

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19.  Abdallah Taleb Al-Moghanni <\/p><\/div>\n

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20.   Hossam Mahmoud Al-Zahhar<\/p><\/div>\n

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21.  Rami Talal Farahat<\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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22.   Aahed Saa’dallah Ashour<\/p><\/div>\n

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23.  Marwan Sameer Odeh<\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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24.   Mahmoud Ata Abu Laban<\/p><\/div>\n

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25.  Saleem Abdel Haq Al-Modallal <\/p><\/div>\n

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26.   Abdallah Al-Haj Salem<\/p><\/div>\n

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27.  Sakhr Saleem Zwayed<\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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28.   Mostafa Yahya Selmi (19)<\/p><\/div>\n

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29.  Mos’ab Saleem Selmi (18) <\/p><\/div>\n

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30.   Mohammad Sabri Hana<\/p><\/div>\n

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31.  Mohammad Majdi Hajji<\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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32.   Sa’eed Mostafa Al-Sammouni<\/p><\/div>\n

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33.  As’aad Issa Tafesh<\/span> <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

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34.   Ayman Fadel Malaka<\/p><\/div>\n

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35.  Abdel Salam Abu Laban (19) <\/p><\/div>\n

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36.   Ahmad Nasr Al-Attal<\/p><\/div>\n

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37.  Marwan Hamada<\/p><\/div>\n

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*   The total number of Palestinian martyrs killed by the Israeli occupying forces since 28 September 2000 is 4,899. <\/p><\/div>\n

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 <\/p><\/div>\n

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