Illegal Israeli actions in OPT – Letter from Palestine

Identical letters dated 16 April 2002 from the Permanent Observer of

Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General

and the President of the Security Council

The intense military assault being waged by the Israeli occupying forces against the Palestinian people and the Palestinian Authority continues, now in its eighteenth day, in spite of Security Council resolutions 1402 (2002) and 1403 (2002). Indeed, Israel, the occupying Power, continues launching attacks, wreaking widespread death and destruction, in spite of innumerable appeals and demands from all corners of the international community for an immediate halt to the Israeli assaults and an immediate Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian cities, towns and refugee camps.

As the days pass, the shocking aftermath of the ongoing Israeli military assaults, including in particular the appalling humanitarian situation, is becoming increasingly known to the whole world. The Israeli occupying forces have committed grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War with their “wilful killing” and “extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly”. The war crimes being committed by Israel are part of its design to destroy not only the Palestinian Authority but also the Palestinian infrastructure as a means of devastating both the present and the future life of the Palestinian people.

In the Jenin refugee camp, Israeli atrocities have gone even further, with credible reports about a massacre committed against the residents of the camp, with women and children among the dead. Israeli occupying forces are still preventing the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations from entering the camp, compounding the untold suffering of the wounded and those who remain alive in the camp. The Jenin camp itself has been obliterated by the Israeli occupying forces. Many homes and other buildings have been completely destroyed. The occupying forces fired missiles from helicopter gunships and even used bulldozers to demolish homes, in several instances bulldozing homes while civilians were still inside. Some have been buried alive and their bodies continue to be discovered, and several other civilians have been rescued from the rubble after surviving for days. Moreover, many of the Palestinians killed in the Jenin camp remain in the streets decaying as the occupying forces continue to prevent the retrieval of the dead. At the same time, there are widespread reports that the Israeli forces themselves have been removing and burying some bodies.

In the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the destruction caused by the assaults of the Israeli occupying forces has been vast. Rubble and debris from homes, buildings and infrastructure destroyed by the occupying forces abound, inter alia, in the cities of Ramallah, Bethlehem, Tulkarem, Qalqilya, Jenin and Nablus and the nearby towns and refugee camps. The old city of Nablus and Bethlehem and the city of Jenin have suffered the most excessive and wanton destruction. As the Israeli siege and reoccupation continues, the streets remain deserted, with Palestinian socio-economic life in virtual ruins and brought to a halt as a result of the Israeli military campaign. Moreover, the round-ups and abductions of scores of Palestinians continue, and the occupying Power continues to illegally detain more than 5,000 Palestinians.

Israeli tanks also continue to impose a siege on the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, in complete violation of the sanctity of this holy site, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. Further, Israel continues to threaten the deportation, another war crime, of those who sought refuge in the sanctuary of the Church more than a week ago. Clearly, as this military siege continues, the humanitarian situation inside the Church continues to rapidly deteriorate.

At the same time, the Israeli siege of the office of the President of the Palestinian Authority and the elected leader of the Palestinian people, Yasser Arafat, continues, including the positioning of troops and snipers inside the compound itself. Moreover, water and electricity to the compound have been cut off and communication lines have been jammed, creating a very serious and debilitating situation inside.

It is deeply regrettable that the outcry from humanitarian organizations in the area and beyond, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), has received no adequate response by the international community, including the Security Council. The United Nations Secretary-General himself has repeatedly warned of the rapid decline of the situation on the ground and has called for quick action, including the formation of an international force and its dispatch to the Occupied Palestinian Territory. We once again appeal to the international community to take urgent actions to bring an end to the human rights violations, war crimes and State terrorism being perpetrated by Israel, the occupying Power, against the Palestinian people. It is time for the Security Council to bear its responsibilities to prevent the further deterioration of this already tragic situation and to take the necessary measures to ensure the immediate implementation of its resolutions 1402 (2002) and 1403 (2002).

In follow-up to my previous 116 letters to you regarding the crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, dated from 29 September 2000 to 10 April 2002  (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; A/ES-10/83-S/2001/471; A/ES-10/84-S/2001/479; A/ES-10/85-S/2001/486; A/ES-10/86-S/2001/496

; A/ES-10/87-S/2001/504; A/ES-10/88-S/2001/508; A/ES-10/89-S/2001/544; A/ES-10/90-S/2001/586; A/ES-10/91-S/2001/605; A/ES-10/92-S/2001/629; A/ES-10/93-S/2001/657; A/ES-10/94-S/2001/669; A/ES-10/95-S/2001/686; A/ES-10/96-S/2001/697; A/ES-10/97-S/2001/708; A/ES-10/98-S/2001/717; A/ES-10/99-S/2001/742; A/ES-10/100-S/2001/754; A/ES-10/101-S/2001/783; A/ES-10/102-S/2001/785; A/ES-10/103-S/2001/798; A/ES-10/104-S/2001/812; A/ES-10/105-S/2001/814; A/ES-10/107-S/2001/821; A/ES-10/108-S/2001/826; A/ES-10/110-S/2001/855; A/ES-10/111-S/2001/880; A/ES-10/112-S/2001/918; A/ES-10/114-S/2001/928; A/ES-10/115-S/2001/932; A/ES-10/116-S/2001/941; A/ES-10/117-S/2001/971; A/ES-10/118-S/2001/989; A/ES-10/119-S/2001/991; A/ES-10/121-S/2001/1007; A/ES-10/122-S/2001/1024; A/ES-10/123-S/2001/1036; A/ES-10/124-S/2001/1084; A/ES-10/125-S/2001/1092; A/ES-10/126-S/2001/1118; A/ES-10/128-S/2001/1149; A/ES-10/129-S/2001/1166; A/ES-10/133-S/2001/1239, A/ES-10/134-S/2001/1261, A/ES-10/136-S/2002/18, A/ES-10/137-S/2002/39, A/ES-10/138-S/2002/48, A/ES-10/139-S/2002/58, A/ES-10/140-S/2002/89, A/ES-10/141-S/2002/95, A/ES-10/142-S/2002/102, A/ES-10/143-S/2002/121, A/ES-10/144-S/2002/142, A/ES-10/145-S/2002/146, A/ES-10/146-S/2002/165; A/ES-10/147-S/2002/175; A/ES-10/148-S/2002/182

, A/ES-10/149-S/2002/190, A/ES-10/150-S/2002/214 A/ES-10/151-S/2002/223; A/ES-10/152-S/2002/232; A/ES-10/154-S/2002/242, A/ES-10/155-S/2002/248, A/ES-10/156-S/2002/249, A/ES-10/157-S/2002/253; A/ES-10/158-S/2002/258; A/ES-10/159-S/2002/281; A/ES-10/160-S/2002/307; A/ES-10/161-S/2002/319; A/ES-10/162-S/2002/330; A/ES-10/163-S/2002/340; A/ES-10/164-S/2002/353; A/ES-10/165-S/2002/356 and A/ES-10/166-S/2002/370), it is my profound regret to inform you that, since my last letter to you, it has been revealed that at least 42 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli occupying forces. This raises the total number of Palestinian martyrs killed by the occupying forces to 1,382.

  Once again, due to the extremely difficult circumstances in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, we have been unable to compile a complete and accurate list of all of the Palestinian martyrs killed by the Israeli occupying forces, particularly those that have been killed in the attack on the Jenin refugee camp. The annex to the present letter contains the names of the martyrs that have thus far been identified, and the names of the other Palestinians that have been killed will be conveyed once they are identified.

  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 16 April 2002 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, 11 April 2002, to Monday, 15 April 2002)

   Thursday, 11 April 2002

1.   Mohammed Nafa’a Hardan
2.  Amal Hardan
3.   Jameela Hardan (7 months pregnant)
4.  Youssef Salman Mihana
5.  Ahed Rasmi Ali Hamad (5 years old)
6.   Rifaat Khalil Abdelrahman Sidqi Al-Jabaa
7.  Tawfiq Salman Al-Naouq
8.  Jamal Issa Turkman
9.  Ammar Hamdan Salem Othman
10.  Burhan Abdellatif Abu Odeh
11.  Abdelmuti Silmi Abu Sunineh
12.  Mohammed Khalil Khalaf

   Friday, 12 April 2002

1.   Hatim Talal Abu Al-Qumbuz
2.  Mohammed Mahmoud Al-Askafi
3.   Attallah Mikhail Al-Hayek
4.  Samir Al-Shaabi
5.   Nazmi Hamdan Yassin
6.  Bassimah Musa Al-Qaysieh
7.   Imad Hamdan Salem Othman
8.  Radi Ahmed Deeb Marie
9.   Inaz Housni Saleh Milhim
10.  Faris Inad Fares Al-Zibin (12 years old)
11.  Iskandar Khaled Saadeh

   Saturday, 13 April 2002

1.   Riyad Abdelkarim Diad Saadeh
2.   Omar Mohammed Al-Shaabi (The following 6 people are his family. His father
 was killed on Friday.)
3.  Fatma Omar Mohammed Al-Shaabi
4.  Abeer Omar Mohammed Al-Shaabi
5.   Nabeela Abdelraouf Al-Shaabi
6.   Abdallah Samir Al-Shaabi (10 years old)
7.   Azzam Samir Al-Shaabi (7 years old)
8.   Anas Samir Al-Shaabi (4 years old)
9.  Mohammed Aziz Abdelraouf

    Sunday, 14 April 2002

1.  Ribhi Ramez Selim Haddad
2.  Hassan Abdallah Nisman
3.  Son of Ali Al-Shaar (Newborn baby — 1 day old)
4.   Salem Ahmed Salem Abu-Khouseh
5.   Mohammed Taher Mohammed Al-Sheikh Al-Shawaneh

   Monday, 15 April 2002

1.   Ala’a Ahmed Al-Aaraj
2.  Mohammed Ahmed Abu-Muhareb
3.   Rana Saedi Al-Karjah
4.  Rasmi Mustafa Abdeljalil Kadadheh
5.  Khaled Abdelraouf Hamad

____________

 *   The total number of Palestinian martyrs killed by Israeli occupying forces since 28 September 2000 is 1,382.