Illegal Israeli actions in OPT – Letter from Palestine

Identical letters dated 14 May 2001 from the Permanent Observer

of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the

Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council

In the early morning hours of today (Palestine time), Israeli occupying forces executed five Palestinian policemen who were at a Palestinian checkpoint in the town of Beitunia, west of Ramallah. The bodies of the three Palestinians killed were found in a hole beside the checkpoint, while the other two killed were found in a caravan on the site. The Israeli army spoke today of “operational activity” near Beitunia in which the soldiers opened fire on “suspicious figures”. These wilful killings represent additional war crimes committed by the Israeli occupying forces in an escalated pattern of the Israeli military campaign against the Palestinian people. Today’s war crimes should be vigorously condemned and the perpetrators must be brought to justice.

Also in the early morning hours of today, Israeli helicopter gunships and naval boats fired missiles at several security and police stations in the Gaza Strip, one of which lies in the heart of Gaza City, destroying police armoured vehicles and several buildings. These attacks resulted in the injury of several people and caused widespread fear and anxiety among the civilian population in the area.

At the same time, the Israeli occupying forces continue to pursue the illegal and criminal policy of extrajudicial killing. Yesterday, Israeli helicopter gunships fired at least five missiles at a parked car, killing one of the passengers. Another Palestinian policeman in a nearby traffic car was also killed in this attack.

Moreover, Israeli occupying forces have repeatedly entered the territories under full Palestinian control in the last few days. These incursions by the Israeli occupying forces have resulted in the vast destruction of property and the uprooting of orchards as well as in creating great panic, terrorizing the Palestinian civilian population living under the brutal Israeli occupation.

In follow-up to my previous letters, dated from 29 September 2000 to 10 May 2001 (A/55/432-S/2000/921;  A/55/437-S/2000/930; A/55/450-S/2000/957; A/55/466-S/2000/971; A/55/474-S/2000/984; A/55/490-S/2000/993; A/ES-10/39-S/2000/1015; A/ES-10/40-S/2000/1025; A/ES-10/42-S/2000/1068; A/ES-10/43-S/2000/1078; A/ES-10/44-S/2000/1093; A/ES-10/45-S/2000/1104; A/ES-10/46-S/2000/1107; A/ES-10/47-S/2000/1116; A/ES-10/48-S/2000/1129; A/ES-10/49-S/2000/1154; A/ES-10/50-S/2000/1173; A/ES-10/51-S/2000/1185; A/ES-10/52-S/2000/1215; A/ES-10/53-S/2000/1247; A/ES-10/54-S/2001/7; A/ES-10/55-S/2001/33; A/ES/10/56-S/2001/50, A/ES-10/57-S/2001/101; A/ES-10/58-S/2001/131 A/ES-10/59-S/2001/156;  A/ES-10/60-S/2001/175; A/ES-10/61-S/2001/189; A/ES-10/64-S/2001/209;  A/ES-10/65-S/2001/226; A/ES-10/66-S/2001/239; A/ES-10/67-S/2001/255; A/ES-10/68-S/2001/284; A/ES-10/69-S/2001/295; A/ES-10/70-S/2001/304; A/ES-10/71-S/2001/314; A/ES-10/72-S/2001/332; A/ES-10/75-S/2001/352; A/ES-10/76-S/2001/372; A/ES-10/79-S/2001/418; A/ES-10/80-S/2001/432; A/ES-10/81-S/2001/447; A/ES-10/82-S/2001/463 and A/ES-10/83-S/2001/471), I regret to inform you that 11 more Palestinians, including the martyrs mentioned above, have died as a result of the brutal actions of the occupying forces. (The names of the martyrs are contained in the annex to the present letter.) These deaths raise the total number of Palestinian martyrs killed by the Israeli occupying forces since 28 September 2000 to 455 people. At the same time, the total number of Palestinian civilians injured, many severely and permanently, also continues to rise each day.

We hold the Israeli Government fully responsible for the above-mentioned war crimes and other atrocities committed against the Palestinian people in grave violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, as well as other instruments of international law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Furthermore, we believe that Israel, the occupying Power, persists with these actions because of what it perceives as the inability of the Security Council to react effectively in putting an end to these Israeli atrocities. The inaction of the Council effectively develops a culture of impunity within which Israel is acting. This inaction must end and the Security Council must bear its responsibilities under the United Nations Charter.

I would 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.

(Signed) Dr. Nasser Al-Kidwa

Ambassador

Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations

Annex to the identical letters dated 14 May 2001 from the Permanent Observer

of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

and the President of the Security Council

Names of martyrs killed by Israeli occupying forces in the

Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem*

(Thursday, 10 May 2001 through Monday, 14 May 2001)

Thursday, 10 May 2001

1. Kefah Khalid Zo’rob (16 years old)

2. Khader Hussein Jendeya

Friday, 11 May 2001

1. Hossam Fawaz Tafesh (16 years old)

Saturday, 12 May 2001

1. Allam Nasr Jaloudi

2. Mo’tasem Al-Sabagh

3. Salman Al-Arouki

Monday, 14 May 2001

1. Ahmed Zakout

2. Salah Abu Amrah

3. Ahmed Abu Mustafa

4. Ala Sawalha

5. Mahmoud Abu Dawoud Al-Khalidi

_____________

* Total number of Palestinian martyrs killed by Israeli occupying forces since 28 September 2000 = 455.