Israel, the occupying Power, has taken military actions today tantamount to the declaration of an overall war against the entire Palestinian people, which is already under military occupation. In the last few hours, the Israeli occupying forces have encroached Palestinian cities, dramatically increasing their presence in the vicinities of these cities, and fired rockets from helicopter gun-ships and Israeli military ships to destroy several official Palestinian locations in Ramallah and near Gaza City. These violent, military actions have resulted in the loss of heavy Palestinian lives and the severe destruction of property in wholly civilian areas in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

All such Israeli actions are grave violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949. They are in violation of all norms of international law, including the resolutions of the United Nations, and of the agreements reached between the two sides in the context of the Middle East peace process. They also threaten to plunge the whole region into a serious confrontation.

We call for an immediate meeting of the Security Council and immediate action by the Council to bring an end to these illegal military actions and the extremely dangerous situation that has developed.