Pre-dawn today (Palestine time), Israeli occupying forces invaded and reoccupied two neighborhoods in Al-Khalil (Hebron), killing five Palestinians, injuring scores and destroying many homes and buildings. About fifty Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers rolled into the two neighborhoods, Abu Sneineh and El-Sheikh, heavily shelling the neighborhoods with tank fire in addition to helicopter gun-ships. The occupying forces ousted Palestinian residents from at least fifteen homes while demolishing many others. An Israeli spokesman said that the forces would remain on the site "as long as necessary".

This new Israeli war crime comes immediately after the Israeli government decided that the army could take all necessary measures, which practically meant that the Israeli government has decided to put aside the agreement on cease-fire. This crime also comes after a blister of hostile, dangerous and erratic statements made by the Prime Minister Mr. Ariel Sharon. The statements made by the Israeli government and the actions taken by the Israeli occupying forces have taken the situation and the whole area to a new dangerous and explosive level.

The international community, in specific the Security Council, must step in immediately to ensure reversal of the illegal steps taken by Israel, the occupying Power, to prevent further deterioration and to push for the immediate and comprehensive implementation of Mitchell’s recommendations towards a final settlement.

I am writing this letter in follow-up to our previous 71 letters addressed to you regarding this grave and ongoing situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, dated from 29 September 2000 to 3 October 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; A/ES-10/93-S/2001/657; A/ES-10/94-S/2001/669; A/ES-10/95-S/2001/686; A/ES-10/96-S/2001/697; A/ES-10/97-S/2001/708; A/ES-10/98-S/2001/717; A/ES-10/99-S/2001/742; A/ES-10/100-S/2001/754; A/ES10/101S/2001/783; A/ES-10/102-S/2001/785; A/ES-10/103-S/2001/798; A/ES10/104;S/2001/812; A/ES-10/105-S/2001/814; A/ES-10/107-S/2001/821;A/ES-10/108-S/2001/826; A/ES-10/111-S/2001/880; A/ES-10/112-S/2001/918; A/ES-10/114-S/2001/928 and A/ES-10/115-S/2001/932.) I regret to inform you that since our last letter to you dated, 3 October 2001, Israeli occupying forces have killed seven more Palestinians, including the martyrs mentioned above, bringing the total number of Palestinian martyrs to 674. (The names of the martyrs are contained in the annex to the present letter.)

1. Mohammed Awad

1. Mohammed Imad Al-Sharabasi

1. Hazem Abdel Majeed Amr

2. Kasem Tawfiq Abu Afifah

3. Ra’ed Yussef Abu Seninah

4. Iyad Samir Kufeeshah

5. Nidal Mohammed Kufeeshah