Situation in the OPT – Letter from Palestine

Letter dated 14 March 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.  

The situation in the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967, including Jerusalem, remains extremely dangerous and continues to deteriorate further.  

On 8 March 1989 in the Gaza area, 169 Palestinians were hospitalized as a result of injuries received in confrontations with Israeli occupation troops.  Forty-nine of those injured suffered bullet wounds, others suffered injuries ranging from bone fractures to severe lacerations and bruises.  

On the occasion of International Women's Day, 8 March 1989, Palestinian women from the Gaza area staged a large demonstration protesting the occupation.  Israeli occupation troops opened fire on them with toxic tear-gas.  Groups of Palestinian women carried out protests in the Khan Younis and Rimal area, while others in the Gaza area staged a sit-in strike inside the office of the International Committee of the Red Cross.  

Four Palestinian houses in Bethlehem have been demolished by the Israeli occupation authorities on the pretext that their owners lacked proper permits.  Confrontations erupted between the occupants and Israeli occupation troops following the demolition and a 14-year-old boy was shot in the head.  At least 30/residents lived in the demolished buildings.  In the village of Al-Khadr, also in the Bethlehem area, three Palestinian buildings housing 40 people were dynamited by Israeli occupation troops.  

Palestinians in the Nur Shams Palestinian refugee camp near Tulkarem are experiencing severe shortages of foodstuffs, primarily bread and powdered milk, as a result of an Israeli curfew.  The camp houses around 4,670 Palestinians and UNRWA personnel have encountered great difficulties in attempting to carry out their relief work.  

We believe that the aforementioned dangerous situation requires immediate action by the international community.  

We should be grateful if you would arrange to have the present letter circulated as an official document of the General Assembly, under agenda 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.