Situation in the Gaza Strip/Military actions by Israel – NAM statements, Note verbale from Cuba

Note verbale dated 6 January 2009 from the Permanent Mission

of Cuba to the United Nations Office at Geneva addressed to the

secretariat of the Human Rights Council

  The Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland presents its compliments to the Human Rights Council secretariat, and has the honour to transmit herewith the statements * issued on 29 December 2008 and 5 January 2009 by the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement in New York on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in the light of the latest assaults by Israel against the Gaza strip.

  The Permanent Mission of Cuba wishes to express the grave concern of the Non-Aligned Movement at the worsening situation in the Gaza strip, which has caused the death of several hundred Palestinian citizens, including children, as a result of the illegal acts of aggression by Israel, the occupying Power, and since a special session of the Human Rights Council may soon be convoked to consider that topic, would be grateful if this letter and its annexes could be circulated as official documents, in the event that the session is convened.

  The Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland takes this opportunity to renew to the secretariat of the Human Rights Council the assurances of its highest consideration.

Anexo

STATEMENT BY THE COORDINATING BUREAU OF THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT ON THE ISRAELI’S MILITARY AGGRESSION AGAINST

THE GAZA STRIP IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY

 (ENGLISH VERSION)

The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) strongly condemns the military aggression, including airstrikes, carried out by Israel, the occupying Power, on the Gaza Strip, which has caused death and injuries to hundreds of civilians, including children, and destruction of Palestinian property and infrastructure.

This unacceptable military escalation by Israel constitutes a grave breach of international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, fuels the cycle of violence and threatens international peace and security as well as the fragile peace process between the two sides.

Such violent and illegal military actions and the continued collective punishment of the Palestinian people have deepened the suffering of innocent and defenceless Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who are already greatly suffering from continued imposition of the crippling Israeli siege and the ensuing humanitarian crisis.

NAM demands that Israel immediately cease its military attacks and abide by all of its obligations under international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.

NAM calls upon the international community, especially the Security Council, to uphold international law and its responsibilities and to act urgently to address this grave situation.

The Non-Aligned Movement reaffirms its support for and solidarity with the Palestinian people.

  New York, 29 December 2008

DECLARACIÓN DEL BURÓ DE COORDINACIÓN DEL MOVIMIENTO

DE PAÍSES NO ALINEADOS SOBRE LA AGRESIÓN MILITAR

ISRAELÍ CONTRA LA FRANJA DE GAZA EN EL TERRITORIO

PALESTINO OCUPADO. (VERSIóN EN ESPAñOL)

El Buró de Coordinación del Movimiento de Países No Alineados condena enérgicamente la agresión militar, incluido los ataques aéreos, llevada a cabo por Israel, la Potencia ocupante, en la Franja de Gaza, que ha causado cientos de muertos y heridos en la población civil, dentro de los que se incluyen niños, así como la destrucción de propiedades y la infraestructura Palestinas.

Esta inaceptable escalada militar por parte de Israel constituye una grave violación del Derecho Internacional, incluido el derecho internacional humanitario y el relativo a los derechos humanos, intensifica el ciclo de violencia y amenaza la paz y la seguridad internacionales, así como el frágil proceso de paz entre ambas partes.

Tales acciones militares de naturaleza violenta e ilegal y el continuo castigo colectivo contra el pueblo palestino han incrementado el sufrimiento de palestinos inocentes e indefensos en la Franja de Gaza, quienes ya sufren de manera considerable por la continua imposición del atroz cerco israelí y la consecuente crisis humanitaria.

El MNOAL exige que Israel cese inmediatamente sus ataques militares y cumpla con todas sus obligaciones en virtud del derecho internacional y las resoluciones pertinentes de las Naciones Unidas.

El MNOAL exhorta a la comunidad internacional, especialmente al Consejo de Seguridad, a regirse por el derecho internacional y sus responsabilidades y a actuar urgentemente para resolver esta grave situación.

El Movimiento de Países No Alineados reafirma su apoyo y solidaridad con el pueblo Palestino.

  Nueva York, 29 de diciembre de 2008

STATEMENT BY THE COORDINATING BUREAU OF THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT ON THE ESCALATION OF THE ISRAELI MILITARY AGGRESSION AGAINST THE GAZA STRIP IN THE OCCUPIED

PALESTINIAN TERRITORY (ENGLISH VERSION) 

The Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) strongly condemns the escalation of the military aggression being carried out by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Gaza Strip. NAM is gravely concerned by and condemns in particular the launching of the Israeli ground invasion in Gaza in flagrant defiance of the calls by the international community for a cessation of military activities and of the regional and international diplomatic efforts underway to resolve the current crisis.

NAM expresses its deep regret at the loss of innocent life as a result of the ongoing Israeli military attacks against the Strip, including the killing of more than 460 Palestinian civilians, among them several children, and the injuring of nearly more than 2,500 other civilians, as well as the massive destruction of property and infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.

NAM reiterates that this unacceptable Israeli military aggression against the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip constitutes a grave breach of international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, fuels the cycle of violence and threatens international peace and security as well as the fragile peace process between the two sides.

NAM calls for an immediate cessation of all military activities and violence and for the implementation of an immediate general ceasefire. Israel should immediately cease all its military attacks and scrupulously abide by all of its obligations, as the occupying Power, under international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. In this regard, the Movement urges Israel to unconditionally comply with its obligations under international law, including the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949.

In view of the indiscriminate bombings affecting the civilian population, including women and children, as well as the severe humanitarian crisis prevailing in Gaza, NAM also calls for the immediate provision of protection for the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip in accordance with the relevant provisions of international humanitarian law.

The Movement expresses grave concern about the deepening humanitarian crisis being faced by the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza as a result of the current military actions, the continued closure of all border crossings and the obstruction of access of humanitarian aid, including food and medicines, and the reduction of fuel and electricity supplies to the Gaza Strip by Israel.

In this context, NAM calls upon Israel to end the collective punishment of the Palestinian people and to allow for the immediate and sustained opening of the Gaza Strip’s border crossings to ensure the free access of humanitarian aid and other essential supplies and goods as well as to facilitate the passage of persons to and from the Gaza Strip.

In light of the gravity of this crisis, NAM expresses its deep disappointment at the inability of the Security Council to uphold its responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security. Despite more than a week of sustained military attacks that have gravely affected the civilian population and heightened instability and tensions in the region, the Council has regrettably been unable to take any concrete measure to end the aggression. Once again, the Movement requests the Security Council to act urgently to address this grave situation.

NAM stresses the need for intensified and coordinated efforts by the international community to bring an end to this crisis and to exert all necessary efforts to support and promote the peace process as well as to ensure respect for international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law, the key to a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Arab-Israeli conflict as a whole, as the sole means to guarantee a lasting peace in the region.

The Movement is convinced that there is no military solution to the conflict. In this context, NAM reaffirms its commitment to a peaceful solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to the right of the Palestinian people to exercise self-determination and sovereignty in their independent State of Palestine, on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

  New York, 5 January 2009

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