Situation in the OPT/Expulsion – Letter from Palestine

Letter dated 21 December 1992 from the Permanent Observer

Mission of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to

the Secretary-General

I am instructed by the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which retains the powers and responsibilities of the Provisional Government of Palestine, to bring the following to your immediate attention.

In reference to Security Council resolution 799/(1992), unanimously adopted on 18/December/1992, and to follow up my letters dated 17 and 18/December/1992 (A/47/805-S/24983) regarding the Palestinian civilians deported by Israel, the occupying Power, on 17/December/1992, I should like to bring to your attention the status and the extremely harsh living conditions of the deportees in their present location.  Such a situation, in our opinion, necessitates an even more rapid implementation of resolution 799/(1992), especially the request made by the Council to you, with the aim of ensuring the safe and immediate return of the deportees to their homes in the occupied Palestinian territory, and the return of all other deported Palestinians, as well as the implementation of all other parts of the resolution.

I must also draw your attention to the criminal acts, especially the practice of indiscriminate shooting, committed by the Israeli army against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip on 19/December/1992, which resulted in the death of seven Palestinians, including a girl nine years of age.  Today, another child was shot and killed as well.  Further, the Palestinian people living in the occupied territory remain under severe kinds of collective punishment imposed by the Israeli authorities, such as the imposition of an around-the-clock curfew in the Gaza Strip since 13/December/1992.

We alert the international community to such a dangerous situation, which may even deteriorate further as a result of Israeli policies and practices, and we believe that the international community, particularly the United Nations, should shoulder their responsibilities in an effective and speedy manner to put an end to such tragedy.

I should be grateful if you would arrange to have the text of the present letter distributed as an official document of the General Assembly, under agenda items 30, 35, 73 and 74, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Dr. Nasser AL-KIDWA

Permanent Observer of

Palestine to the United Nations

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