Embassy of the State of Palestine

PLO Executive Committee Secretary General, Yasser Abed Rabbo, and PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, met with the international diplomatic corps to Palestine, including consuls and representatives to the State of Palestine, at the PLO headquarters in Ramallah. They addressed the crisis in Gaza and the ongoing Israeli assault in the context of internal, regional and global political developments.

Both Mr. Abed Rabbo and Dr. Ashrawi insisted that the Egyptian proposal is a necessary first step that must be developed, not only to end the blockade, but to ensure Israeli compliance with international law and the requirements for peace:

Ten human rights organizations urgently contacted Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein today following the release of reports on the nature of attacks within the Gaza Strip and the high rate of civilian casualties. This information raises concerns about grave violations of international humanitarian law.

ERUSALEM, July 22, 2014 (WAFA) - The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), in a statement Tuesday, reiterated its appeal to provide urgent cash assistance to the urgent humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the strip sine July 8.
UNRWA has appealed for US$ 115 million in funds to respond to the urgent humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza. Palestinians in the West Bank, both individuals and institutions, have been eager to send support to their compatriots in the Gaza Strip, and their generosity is a welcome expression of solidarity and support, it said.

“There is an urgent need for all countries to take their responsibilities seriously and intervene to save lives and to curb Israeli violations and war crimes. The situation in Gaza is nothing short of a deliberate massacre.”

The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) strongly condemns this morning massacre against the Palestinian civilian population of the Shuja’iya Neighbourhood in the Gaza Strip when the Israeli Occupation Forces indiscriminately and disproportionately opened fire resulting in hundreds of casualties in this neighbourhood. ICHR also strongly condemns the continuous Israeli occupation’s ferocious aggression and massacres against the Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip thereby committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in flagrant violation of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law.

Several thousand people are estimated to have marched through central Auckland to protest the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza, which, along with previous airstrikes, have resulted in over 300 deaths in under two weeks’ time.

The Australian Government strongly condemns the decision of Hamas to reject a ceasefire to hostilities between Israel and extremist groups in Gaza.

THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP, DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION,SHADOW MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MEMBER FOR SYDNEY made a statement on July 14, indicating that Labor urges calm and supports the calls of the UN Security Council for a ceasefire.

RAMALLAH, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas welcomed late on Monday the Egyptian ceasefire initiative to end a bloody week of cross-border violence between Israel and the Palestinian factions.

Abbas appreciated the Egyptian role and efforts to protect the Palestinian people, official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported.

The Palestinian president has also urged both parties to commit to the terms of the new ceasefire initiative to stop the Palestinian bloodshed, hoping that the new proposal would pave the way for a political process to end the occupation of Palestine and lead to the creation of an independent state.

14 July 2014 – Concerned about more civilian casualties in a possible Israeli military incursion into Gaza, senior United Nations humanitarian officials on a visit to the area called today for an immediate return to calm and a ceasefire to avoid further loss of life.