Situation in the OPT – Letter from Palestine

Letter dated 27 April 1989 from the Permanent Observer 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 Palestine, to bring the following to your immediate attention.  Over the past three days activities of armed elements of the occupying power, Israel, in the occupied Palestinian territory have resulted in a large number of deaths and injuries.  Three Palestinians have been killed in Gaza:  a 16-year-old boy was shot through the heart, a 16-year-old girl and a 22-year-old youth died from bullet wounds.  Twenty Palestinians were wounded, including a 14-year-old boy who has been totally paralysed and a 2-year-old toddler who was shot in the head with a plastic bullet.  In Hebron a 23-year-old youth was shot in the back, and in Al-Bireh a 70-year-old woman was shot in the face with a plastic bullet.  In Tulkarem an 8-year-old boy died from bullet wounds, and in Qalqilyah three children between the ages of 11 and 12 years have been hospitalized for cuts and bruises after being brutally clubbed by Israeli soldiers.

Recalling that the General Assembly in its resolution 43/233 of 20/April/1989 had almost unanimously requested the Security Council "to consider with urgency the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory with a view to considering measures needed to provide international protection to the Palestinian civilians in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem", I would draw to your attention that Israel, the occupying power, has persisted in its practices and policies towards the Palestinian people.

I am instructed to request that you immediately respond to the request of the General Assembly, as such acts of state terrorism by Israel, the occupying power, constitute a definite threat to international peace and security.

We would be grateful if you would arrange to have the text of this letter circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under items 37, 39 and 78 of the preliminary list, and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Zuhdi Labib TERZI

Permanent Observer of Palestine

to the United Nations

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* A/44/50/Rev.1.