Bolivarian Alliance condemns Israeli aggression against Gaza – Letter from Venezuela

Identical letters dated 22 August 2014 from the Permanent Representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council

I have the honour to transmit herewith, on behalf of the countries that comprise the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America — Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) — Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Venezuela — a copy of a joint communication on the current situation in the State of Palestine and the ongoing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people (see annex).

I should be grateful if you would circulate the present letter and its annex as a document of the tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly, under agenda item 5, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Samuel Moncada

Ambassador

Permanent Representative

Annex to the letter dated 22 August 2014 from the Permanent Representative of the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council

The Permanent Missions of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, the Republic of Cuba, the Republic of Ecuador, the Republic of Nicaragua and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the United Nations, member States of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America — Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), have the honour to address the President of the Security Council in the opportunity of strongly condemning the continued and systematic Israeli military aggression against the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip, unleashed as of 8 July 2014.

We condemn the indiscriminate military attacks perpetrated by Israel, which have resulted in the deaths of over 2,000 Palestinians, particularly children, women and the elderly, as well as the countless injured. Likewise, the permanent bombing of Israeli forces have destroyed hospital, educational and housing infrastructure, as well as the network of basic services in the Gaza Strip, including United Nations facilities, causing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

Similarly, Israel has hampered humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, resorting to intimidation through their military action, as happened in Rafah on 20 August 2014, when a fighter aircraft dropped a bomb a few metres from where a Venezuelan delegation was delivering humanitarian aid, without it having luckily exploded.

It is necessary that the Security Council fulfils the responsibilities that the Charter of the United Nations provides for the maintenance of international peace and security. In this regard, we call upon its members to rally collectively for demanding that Israel ends these brutal actions against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Until the Security Council does not adopt, due to the refusal of one of its members, a resolution for the immediate ceasefire and the lifting of the illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israel, the international community will continue to witness this unacceptable slaughter.

The Israeli aggressions represent a flagrant violation of international law, including the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, international law of human rights and international humanitarian law, hence constituting crimes against humanity.

Furthermore, we deplore the Israeli withdrawal from the negotiations in Cairo aimed at achieving a permanent and sustainable ceasefire; we encourage the parties to resume those talks.

We, the ALBA countries, reaffirm our support for the self-determination of the Palestinian people and their right for having a free, sovereign and independent State, with borders.

(Signed) Sacha Llorentty Soliz
 Ambassador
 Permanent Representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia
 to the United Nations

(Signed) Rodolfo Reyes Rodriguez
 Ambassador
 Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cuba
 to the United Nations

(Signed) Xavier Lasso Mendoza
 Ambassador
 Permanent Representative of the Republic of Ecuador
 to the United Nations

(Signed) Maria Clarisa Goldrick
 Chargé d’affaires, a.i.
 Permanent Mission of the Republic of Nicaragua
 to the United Nations

(Signed) Samuel Moncada
 Ambassador
 Permanent Representative of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
 to the United Nations