African Union Executive Council meeting (Addis Ababa) – 14th Ordinary session – Statement on Palestine

STATEMENT ON PALESTINE

The Executive Council meeting in its 14^th Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,

Deeply dismayed and shocked by the recent air, ground and sea aggression launched by the Israeli forces on the Palestinian territory of Gaza which cost the lives of more than a thousand people and accounted for thousands of wounded among the innocent civilian populations including women, children and elderly people as well as the massive destruction of property thus depriving Gaza of the most basic services,

Considering the brutality and the massive, indiscriminate and disproportionate nature of this aggression and gravely shocked by the bombing of a school run by the United Nations Agency in charge of Palestinian refugees in Jabaliya in the North of Gaza, in flagrant violation of the norms of international humanitarian law,

Also gravely concerned by the catastrophic humanitarian situation created by the Israeli aggression in Gaza,

Considering that such an aggression has created new tension in the region which has undermined the efforts deployed by the international community in a bid to find a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,

CONDEMNS in no uncertain terms the Israeli aggression and CALLS ON the United Nations Security Council to carry out an investigation into the serious violation of human rights and war crimes observed during the said aggression and the use of banned weapons in order that the perpetrators are prosecuted and punished;

WELCOMES the adoption by the United Nations Security Council of Resolution 1860 which “calls for an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire, leading to full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza”;

WELCOMES the ceasefire following the adoption of the said resolution and INVITES them to observe it in order to create conditions that are most conducive to a lasting solution to the conflict;

RENEWS its support for and solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle to regain their fundamental rights, including the right to existence as an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital;

URGES Israel to put an end to its aggression against the Palestinian people, lift the embargo it has imposed on them and open without delay all the border crossings to allow for the free movement of goods and persons and most importantly humanitarian aid;

INVITES the international community to provide urgent and appropriate assistance for the reconstruction of Gaza.                      

Issued on 29 January 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.