Identical letters dated 19 December 2000 from the Permanent Observer
of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General
and the President of the Security Council
The Israeli military campaign against the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, has not ceased. The Israeli occupying forces continue to use live ammunition and heavy weaponry against Palestinian civilians, including children, resulting in continuing loss of life and injury. In follow-up of my recent letters to you, dated from 29 September to 13 December 2000 (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; and A/ES-10/51-S/2000/1185), I regret to inform you that, since my last letter to you, 13 more Palestinians have been killed, bringing the death toll to 304 martyrs. (The names of the 13 Palestinian martyrs are annexed.) The total number of injuries among the Palestinian people, since 28 September, has risen above 10,000 injured, with 2,099 injuries resulting from live ammunition.
It is regrettable that the Security Council, on 18 December, failed to adopt a draft resolution that would have led to the establishment of a United Nations force of military and police observers to enhance the safety and security of Palestinian civilians. The result of the Council’s deliberations and vote is highly unfortunate, particularly in light of the pressing need for such action.
We take note, however, that there were no negative votes cast on the draft resolution and that several of the members who abstained indicated their support for the idea and attributed their difficulty with the draft to the timing of the action. We believe that it remains the responsibility of the Security Council under the circumstances of a continuing Israeli military campaign against Palestinian civilians to try again in the near future to take such necessary action.
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 and of the Security Council.
(Signed) Nasser Al-Kidwa
Ambassador
Permanent Observer of Palestine
to the United Nations
Annex to the identical letters dated 19 December 2000 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 security forces in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem
(Thursday, 14 December, through Monday, 18 December 2000)
Thursday, 14 December 2000
Hani Hussein Mohammed Abu Bakra
Friday, 15 December 2000
1. Nihad Hassan Mohammed Hantash
2. Saad Adham Al-Kharouf
3. Abdel Muin Hussein Ibrahim Hamed
4. Mohammed Lutfi Kassem Al-Touri
5. Mohammed Amin Dawoud (17 years old)
6. Nour El-Deen Mohammed Abu Safi
Saturday, 16 December 2000
Mohammed Fahad Maali (from wounds sustained on 15 December 2000)
Sunday, 17 December 2000
1. Sameeh Al-Mal’abi
2. Iyad Mahmoud Mohammed Dawoud
3. Ahmad Abdel Jalil Al-Kasas
4. Mohammed Hamed Shalash (17 years old)
Monday, 18 December 2000
Abdel Mou’ti Al-Sab’awi
—–
Document Type: Letter, Palestine letter (Situation in the OPT since 29 September 2000)
Document Sources: General Assembly, General Assembly 10th Emergency Special Session
Subject: Agenda Item, Armed conflict, Casualties, Incidents, Intifadah II
Publication Date: 19/12/2000