Situation in the OPT – Letter from Palestine

Letter dated 28 March 1991 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of 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 has the powers and responsibilities of the Provisional Government of the State of Palestine, to bring the following to your immediate attention:

For the past few days, the Gaza district has witnessed systematic attacks by the Israeli army of occupation resulting in the wounding and killing of many civilians living in the area.  On 28 March 1991, a reoccurrence of such aggressive action took place at Rafah, in both the city and the camp.  During the morning, the Israeli army opened fire on a crowd of Palestinian civilians, instantly killing Sami Zaid Abd Ela'l, 20 years old.  In the afternoon, a larger crowd of Palestinian civilians demanding the release of the body of Sami was attacked by the Israeli army, who opened heavy fire at them, killing and wounding more than 60 persons.  Among the killed was Anwar Joma', a child, 12 years old, who was shot with four bullets in the head.  Among the wounded, four are seriously wounded.

This behaviour by Israel, the occupying Power, is brutal and is in direct violation of civilized internationally recognized human laws and principles, as well as Security Council and General Assembly resolutions.  This further deterioration of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem, in addition to the curfew conditions, is compounding new difficulties upon an already unbearable situation.

We call upon the international community to give the necessary attention, with urgency, to the dangerous situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and to provide for the needed international protection to the Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation.

I should be grateful if you would arrange to have the text of the present letter circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under agenda items 23, 35 and 75, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Riyad MANSOUR

Deputy Permanent Observer

of Palestine to the United Nations

Chargé d'affaires a.i.

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