Situation in the OPT/Gaza declared “hostile territory” by Israel – Non-Aligned Movement Coordinating Bureau statement – Letter from Cuba

Letter dated 24 September 2007 from the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

In my capacity as Acting Chair of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement, I have the honour to enclose herewith the statement by the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, adopted on Friday, 21 September 2007 (see annex).

Furthermore, I request you kindly to circulate the above-mentioned document as a document of the General Assembly, under agenda items 17 and 18, and of the Security Council.

(Signed) Rodrigo Malmierca Díaz 

Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations

Chair of the Coordinating Bureau

of the Non-Aligned Movement

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Annex to the letter dated 24 September 2007 from the Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

Statement by the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem

New York, 21 September 2007

In a dangerous development in the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, on 19 September 2007, Israel’s Security Cabinet declared the occupied Gaza Strip “hostile territory”, declaring its intention to cut off power and fuel supplies to the already isolated and imprisoned Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip.

This cruel decision by Israel amounts to a violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, and the collective punishment of the entire Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip. It is totally unjustifiable under any pretext and should be condemned.

Israel, the occupying Power, should comply with its legal obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention, which is applicable to the entire Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. In this connection, it must be emphasized that the Gaza Strip remains a part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The Non-Aligned Movement calls upon Israel, the occupying Power, to halt all of its violations and grave breaches of international law and to scrupulously abide by its legal obligations under international humanitarian law as an occupying Power.

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