14 May 2001 (A/ES-10/84, S/2001/479)
Letter sent by Dr. Nasser Al-Kidwa, Ambassador and Permanent
Observer of Palestine to the U.N., to the Secretary-General of the United
Nations, the President of the Security Council, and the President of the
General Assembly: (Palestinian Police Killed)
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In the early morning hours of today (Palestine Time), Israeli
occupying forces executed 5 Palestinian policemen who were at a Palestinian
checkpoint in the town of Beitunia, West of Ramallah. The bodies of the 3
Palestinians killed were found in a hole besides the checkpoint, while the
other 2 killed were found in a caravan on the site. The Israeli army spoke
today of "operational activity" near Betunia in which the soldiers opened fire
on "suspicious figures." These willful killings represent additional war
crimes committed by the Israeli occupying forces in an escalated pattern of
the Israeli military campaign against the Palestinian people. Today’s war
crimes should be vigorously condemned and the perpetrators must be brought to
justice.
Also in the early morning hours of today, Israeli helicopter
gunships and naval boats fired missiles at several security and police
stations in the Gaza Strip, one of which lies in the heart of Gaza City,
destroying police armored vehicles and several buildings. These attacks
resulted in the injury of several people and caused widespread fear and
anxiety among the civilian population in the area.
At the same time, the Israeli occupying forces continue to
pursue the illegal and criminal policy of extrajudicial killing. Yesterday,
Israeli helicopter gunships fired at least 5 missiles at a parked car killing
one of the passengers. Another Palestinian policeman in a nearby traffic car
was also killed in this attack.
Moreover, Israeli occupying forces have repeatedly entered
the territories under full Palestinian control in the last few days. These
incursions by the Israeli occupying forces have resulted in the vast
destruction of property, the uprooting of orchards as well as creating great
panic, terrorizing the Palestinian civilian population living under the brutal
Israeli occupation.
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In follow-up to my previous letters, dated from 29 September
2000 to 10 May 2001 (A/55/432-S/2000/921; A/55/437-S/2000/930;
A/55/450-S/2000/957; A/55/466-S/2000/971; A/55/474-S/2000/984;
A/55/490-S/2000/993; A/ES-10/39-S/2000/1015; A/ES-10/40-S/2000/1025;
A/ES-10/42-S/2000/1068; A/ES-10/43-S/2000/1078; A/ES-10/44-S/2000/1093;
A/ES-10/45-S/2000/1104; A/ES-10/46-S/2000/1107; A/ES-10/47-S/2000/1116;
A/ES-10/48-S/2000/1129; A/ES-10/49-S/2000/1154; A/ES-10/50-S/2000/1173;
A/ES-10/51-S/2000/1185; A/ES-10/52-S/2000/1206; A/ES-10/53-S/2000/1247;
A/ES-10/54-S/2001/7; A/ES-10/55-S/2001/33; A/ES-10/56-S/2001/50;
A/ES-10/57-S/2001/101; A/ES-10/58-S/2001/131; A/ES-10/59-S/2001/156;
A/ES-10/60-S/2001/175; A/ES-10/61-S/2001/189; A/ES-10/64-S/2001/209;
A/ES-10/65-S/2001/226; A/ES-10/66-S/2001/239; A/ES-10/67-S/2001/255;
A/ES-10/68-S/2001/284; A/ES-10/69-S/2001/295; A/ES-10/70-S/2001/304;
A/ES-10/71-S/2001/314; A/ES-10/72-S/2001/332; A/ES-10/75-S/2001/352;
A/ES-10/76-S/2001/372; A/ES-10/79-S/2001/418; A/ES-10/80-S/2001/432;
A/ES-10/81-S/2001/447; and A/ES-10/82-S/2001/463; A/ES-10/83-S/2001/471), I
regret to inform you that 11 more Palestinians including the martyrs mentioned
above have died as a result of the brutal actions of the occupying forces.
(The names of the martyrs are contained in the annex to the present letter.)
These deaths raise the total number of Palestinian martyrs killed by the
Israeli occupying forces since 28 September 2000 to 455 people. At the same
time, the total number of Palestinian civilians injured, many severely and
permanently, also continues to rise each day.
We hold the Israeli government fully responsible for the
above mentioned war crimes and other atrocities committed against the
Palestinian people in grave violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949,
as well as other instruments of international law and relevant United Nations
Security Council resolutions.
Furthermore, we believe that Israel, the occupying Power,
persists with these actions because of what it perceives as the inability of
the Security Council to react effectively in putting an end to these Israeli
atrocities. The inaction of the Council effectively develops a culture of
impunity within which Israel is acting. This inaction must end and the
Security Council must bear its responsibilities under the United Nations
Charter.
Names of Martyrs killed by Israeli occupying forces
In the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including
Jerusalem*
(Thursday, 10 May 2001 through Monday, 14 May
2001)
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Thursday, 10 May 2001
- Kefah Khalid Zo’rob (16 years old)
- Khader Hussein Jendeya
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Friday, 11 May 2001
- Hossam Fawaz Tafesh (16 years old)
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Saturday, 12 May 2001
- Allam Nasr Jaloudi
- Mo’tasem Al-Sabagh
- Salman Al-Arouki
Monday, 14 May 2001
- Ahmed Zakout
- Salah Abu Amrah
- Ahmed Abu Mustafa
- Ala Sawalha
- Mahmoud Abu Dawoud Al-Khalidi
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* Total Number of Palestinian Martyrs killed by Israeli
occupying forces since 28 September 2000 = 455
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