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GENERAL ASSEMBLY Thirty-ninth session Item 33 of the preliminary list* QUESTION OF PALESTINE |
SECURITY COUNCIL Thirty-ninth year |
Letter dated 16 May 1984 from the Acting Chairman of the Committee
on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People
to the Secretary-General
As Acting Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, I wish to draw your attention to news items reported today regarding an Israeli search operation which took place at the Ein El-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp outside Sidon in Lebanon on 15 May 1984.
Reports indicate that Israeli occupation troops surrounded and entered the camp. Subsequent military action against Palestinian civilians living in the camp resulted in 60 Palestinians being killed or wounded and some 30 houses destroyed. Further, 150 people were arrested by the Israeli occupation troops.
It is not yet clear whether the houses were demolished and action taken against Palestinian civilians as a collective punitive measure. In any case, such action is prohibited by article 33 of the fourth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949, to which Israel is a party.
Nevertheless, I believe you will concur with the membership of the Committee that it is unconscionable that the Israeli army of occupation in Lebanon should take such action against refugees.
It is not out of place for me to recall in this connection that these refugees have consistently been denied their inalienable rights as defined in several hundreds of General Assembly and Security Council resolutions.
As on previous occasions, this information is being communicated to you in order that you may be kept fully aware of the intensification of activities taken against Palestinians and to express the concern of the Committee regarding constant violation of Palestinian rights, United Nations resolutions and the Geneva Convention of 1949.
Accordingly, I should be grateful if you would be so good as to have the text of this letter circulated as a document of the General Assembly, under item 33 of the preliminary list, and of the Security Council.
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(Signed) Paul ROA-KOURI Acting Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People |
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* A/39/50.
84-12840 1174m (E)
Document Type: Letter
Document Sources: Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP), General Assembly, Security Council
Country: Lebanon
Subject: Agenda Item, Fourth Geneva Convention, Inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Palestine question, Refugee camps, Refugees and displaced persons, Right of return
Publication Date: 16/10/1984