Illegal Israeli actions in OPT – Letter from Palestine

Identical letters dated 18 October 2004 from the Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council

  In the less than three-week period since 29 September 2004, the Israeli occupying forces have killed at least 150 Palestinians, including women and children, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The overwhelming majority of those killed during this period were killed during the occupying Power’s violent and lethal military raids and attacks in the northern Gaza Strip area, particularly in the Jabialiya refugee camp. Using tanks, helicopter gunships and bulldozers, the Israeli occupying forces unleashed excessive and indiscriminate force against the Palestinian civilian population in the area, killing at least 139 Palestinians, including women and children, and injuring at least 500 others, many of them critically. At the same time, during this period, the occupying forces caused widespread and wanton destruction in the area, demolishing at least 80 Palestinian homes and causing damage to dozens of other homes and destroying other properties, including agricultural land and orchards, and vital infrastructure.

  While there have been reports that Israel, the occupying Power, has ended its military “operations” in the northern Gaza Strip, recent statements by the Israeli Defence Minister, Mr. Shaul Mofaz, and the ongoing actions of the Israeli occupying forces are to the contrary. Although it was announced late Friday that the occupying Power intended to withdraw its forces from the area, the Israeli occupying forces have continued to carry out attacks and to kill Palestinians, including by means of extrajudicial execution. Since Friday, at least 10 Palestinians have been killed by the occupying forces. In addition, Mr. Mofaz has stated that Israel has actually not halted its military campaign in the northern Gaza Strip, that it is continuing to take “special measures” and that forces should be ready for an immediate re-entry into the areas.

  In the absence of a clear and strong position by the international community demanding an immediate cessation of Israel’s military attacks against the Palestinian civilian population under its occupation, such statements by Mr. Mofaz, as well as the continuation of Israel’s military rampage against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and throughout the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, are regrettably to be expected. The Security Council’s responsibility for the continuing crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, is unquestionable. The Council’s failure to uphold its main responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security with regard to its handling of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is glaring and cannot be ov   In the absence of a clear and strong position by the international community demanding an immediate cessation of Israel’s military attacks against the Palestinian civilian population under its occupation, such statements by Mr. Mofaz, as well as the continuation of Israel’s military rampage against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and throughout the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, are regrettably to be expected. The Security Council’s responsibility for the continuing crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, is unquestionable. The Council’s failure to uphold its main responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security with regard to its handling of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is glaring and cannot be overlooked. At the same time, it is impossible to overlook or ignore the high number of Palestinians killed, including many children, since the Council met and vetoed the draft resolution on this issue. The Council’s failure in this regard is a serious matter that must be addressed. The Security Council’s credibility and authority, as well as the safety, well-being and survival of the Palestinian people and the chances for peace in the Middle East, are at stake.

  This letter is in follow-up to our previous 207 letters to you regarding the ongoing crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, since 28 September 2000. These letters, dated from 29 September 2000 (A/55/432-S/2000/921) to 14 October 2004 (A/ES-10/288-S/2004/816) constitute a basic record of the crimes committed by Israel, the occupying Power, against the Palestinian people since September 2000. For all of these war crimes, State terrorism and systematic human rights violations committed against the Palestinian people, Israel, the occupying Power, must be held accountable and the perpetrators must be brought to justice.

  Accordingly, in follow-up to the above-mentioned letters, it is my regret to inform you that, since my last letter to you, at least 10 more Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli occupying forces, raising the total number of martyrs killed since September 2000 to 3,408. (The names of the martyrs that have been identified are listed in the annex to the present letter.)

  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) Nasser Al-Kidwa 

Ambassador

Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations

Annex to the identical letters dated 18 October 2004 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 the Israeli occupying forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem *

(Friday, 15 October 2004, to Monday, 18 October 2004)

    Friday, 15 October 2004

1.   Amin Khalil Masoud

2.  Ra’ed Khalil Abu Seif 

3.   Wa’el Mohammed Moussa Saleh

4.  Fatima Asaleiyeh

    Saturday, 16 October 2004

  Mohammed Mansour Rizq Al Aleh

   Monday, 18 October 2004

1.   Mahomoud Al-Sheikh Khalil (died from wounds sustained on 10 October 2004)

2.  Sa’di Abu Al Eish

3.  Mohammed Ashoor

4.   Abdelsattar Suliman Al Ja’fary

5.  Abdelaziz Najah Al-Jazzar

*   The total number of Palestinian martyrs killed by the Israeli occupying forces since 28 September 2000 is 3,408.

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