In spite of worldwide opposition and condemnation, Israel, the occupying Power, insists on pursuing its policy of extrajudicial killings. On Wednesday, 3 July 2001, Mr. Hazem El-Natche was repeatedly shot and wounded in Hebron by Israeli soldiers belonging to an undercover unit. Furthermore, media reports indicated that the Israeli security cabinet in its meeting, on Wednesday, 3 July 2001, affirmed the continuation of the assassination policy. The recent decision to continue the policy was defended by several Israeli officials.

Since 28 September 2000, Israeli occupying forces have killed 40 Palestinians in 19 assassination attempts. This clearly represents a series of war crimes committed by the occupying Power for which the Israeli government of Mr. Ariel Sharon is fully responsible. Israeli officials and officers responsible for such war crimes must be held accountable by the international community, in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law.

In addition to its extremely serious legal implications, the Israeli policy of extrajudicial killings and the decision to continue with it destroys the recently concluded cease-fire agreement. Once more, the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon must be held fully responsible for the consequences of such perilous decisions. In fact, many recent Israeli actions and statements indicate that the Israeli government was never serious about complying with the recommendations of the Report of the Sharm El-Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee (Mitchell Report) and the subsequent understanding on their implementation.

Further, since my last letter to you dated, 2 July 2001 (A/ES-10/93-S/2001/657), I regret to inform you that Israeli occupying forces have killed 2 more Palestinians, one of them today, bringing the total number of Palestinian martyrs to 514. (The names of the martyrs are contained in the annex to the present letter). The number of injuries, many critical, also continues to rise each day as a result of the violent and criminal actions of the occupying forces.

I am writing this letter in follow-up to my previous 53 letters addressed to you regarding this grave and ongoing situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, dated from 29 September 2000 to 2 July 2001 (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; A/ES-10/82-S/2001/463; A/ES-10/83-S/2001/471; A/ES-10/84-S/2001/479; A/ES-10/85-S/2001/486; A/ES-10/86-S/2001/496; A/ES-10/87-S/2001/504; A/ES-10/88-S/2001/508; A/ES-10/89-S/2001/544; A/ES-10/90-S/2001/586; A/ES-10/91-S/2001/605; A/ES-10/92-S/2001/629 and A/ES-10/93-S/2001/657).

As we have repeatedly indicated in the past, the Security Council of the United Nations cannot absolve itself from its responsibility vis-à-vis the ongoing tragic and dangerous situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and in the Middle East as a whole. We once again reiterate our call to the Council to uphold its responsibility and take the necessary measures to save the situation, as well as to ensure compliance with international law, international humanitarian law and existing Palestinian-Israeli agreements.

1. Radwan Ibrahim Eshtay’a

 

1. Nasser Abed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total number of Palestinian martyrs killed by Israeli occupying forces since 28 September 2000 = 514