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2014

2014

STATEMENT ON CONTINUING VIOLENCE IN GAZA BY MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS The Hon Julie Bishop MP

08 August 2014 in 2014

In her statement the Hon Julie bishop said:"The violence must stop as soon as possible. I welcome the announcement of a 72-
hour humanitarian ceasefire to commence later today. Israel and Hamas must fully
commit to and implement this humanitarian pause. Then the priority must be to reach
a permanent ceasefire agreement that brings an end to the killing and recrimination.
All efforts must be directed at these objectives".

U.N. Reports Dire Impact on Children in Gaza Strip

07 August 2014 in 2014

GENEVA — As a 72-hour cease-fire took hold in the Gaza Strip, a United Nations official said Tuesday that Israel’s nearly month long offensive had had a “catastrophic and tragic impact” on children in the territory and that reconstruction would require many hundreds of millions of dollars.

The conflict has killed 408 children and injured 2,502, Pernille Ironside, the head of the Unicef office in Gaza, said, briefing reporters in Geneva by telephone. About 373,000 children have had traumatic experiences and need psychosocial support, she said.

News of Gaza ceasefire welcomed by New Zealand

01 August 2014 in 2014

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the Joint Statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United States Secretary of State John Kerry that there will be a 72 hour humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

“New Zealanders are rightly shocked at the events unfolding in Gaza and we call on both sides to implement an immediate ceasefire."

Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes the joint Declaration, issued by prominent legal expert

31 July 2014 in 2014

In a press statement The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine welcomes the joint declaration, issued by prominent legal experts from countries around the world regarding the wanton killing and destruction committed against our people in the Gaza Strip on 27 July 2014. The experts denounced the grave violations and disrespect of the most basic principles of international law and of the fundamental human rights of the entire Palestinian population, committed by Israel, the occupying Power, during its ongoing aggression against the Gaza Strip. They further reminded of the legal assessment that indiscriminate attacks against civilians is not only illegal under international law but also morally intolerable.

President Abbas send urgent letter to UN sectretary General

31 July 2014 in 2014

In his letter to UN secretary General President Abbas declares the Gaza Strip a disaster area and urges the secretary General to act with all the means available to him in the UN system to ensure that this injustice ends and that the Palestinian people are provided with the protection they are entitled to

Open letter to Minister Bishop by ActionAid Australia

31 July 2014 in 2014

ActionAid Australia sends an open letter calling on Julie Bishop, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to take a strong international stance to promote Palestinian women’s rights in the current conflict.
They wrote: In conflicts like this, women and children are always the most affected. We need to let the Australian Government know that it must use its influence in the United Nations Security Council to ensure that women are not forgotten.

UNRWA Strongly Condemns Israeli Shelling of Its School in Gaza as a Serious Violation of International Law

31 July 2014 in 2014

UNRWA's Commissioner General said in a statement: "Last night, children were killed as they slept next to their parents on the floor of a classroom in a UN designated shelter in Gaza. Children killed in their sleep; this is an affront to all of us, a source of universal shame. Today the world stands disgraced.
We have moved beyond the realm of humanitarian action alone. We are in the realm of accountability. I call on the international community to take deliberate international political action to put an immediate end to the continuing carnage.

Australian MPs take action on Gaza

29 July 2014 in 2014

A letter signed by Australian Politicians stated: "We the undersigned members of Australian federal and state parliaments, call on all Australian politicians to condemn the ongoing Israeli military bombardment and invasion of Gaza.

We call on Australian politicians to support an immediate cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire deal which includes an end to Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories and to the blockade of Gaza".

We call on all Australian politicians to also support the United Nations Human Rights Council's decision to launch an independent inquiry into purported violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

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