Embassy of the State of Palestine

Ambassador Dr. Riyad Mansour sent identical letters to the UN Secretary-General, President of the Security Council, and the President of the General Assembly, on the escalating Israeli aggressions against Gaza strip. He wrote: “We reiterate our urgent appeal to the Security Council of the United Nations to uphold its Charter duties and undertake the necessary action to bring an end to this Israeli aggression and to protect the Palestinian civilian population. What is being perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people constitutes a grave breach of all norms of international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the willful killing of civilians and prohibits reprisals against the civilian population by the occupying Power. War crimes are clearly being perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinian people and this must be unequivocally condemned and stopped. A strong message must be sent to Israel, the occupying Power, to cease immediately its military campaign and abide by the law, in order to deescalate this dangerous situation, to promote calm, and, most importantly, to save innocent civilian lives”.

PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, called on the United Nations Security Council “to uphold its responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security throughout the world and to act immediately to put an end to further Israeli acts of excessive force and violence throughout the West Bank (including occupied East Jerusalem) and in Gaza. Israel must be held accountable for its flagrant violations of international law and vicious attacks and crimes against the Palestinians.”

Since 12 June the Israeli government has initiated a campaign of collective punishment, including mass arrests, movement restrictions, and punitive house demolitions. During this period seven Palestinians have also been killed by live fire in the West Bank by Israeli forces. Al-Haq condemns any loss of civilian life and calls for accountability irrespective of the perpetrators involved.
The international community must act to end a settlement policy that violates international law in order to prevent a further deterioration of the situation on the ground and protect civilian life.

Amid growing Palestine-Israeli tensions, 12 more EU states have joined European heavyweights - such as the UK, Germany and France - in urging their nationals to refrain from doing business in Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The United States government says it is "profoundly troubled" by reports that a 15-year-old American of Palestinian descent was badly beaten by Israeli paramilitary police during riots in East Jerusalem.

Calling for an urgent investigation, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki confirmed that the teen, Tariq Khdeir, was being held by Israeli authorities in Jerusalem and said a consular officer had visited him on Saturday.

RAMALLAH, July 6, 2014 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas Sunday called on UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon to form an international committee to monitor and investigate crimes and violations committed against the Palestinian people, including the burning and killing of Palestinian teenager Tariq Abu Khdeir on June 2nd at the hands of Israeli settlers.

During a meeting with UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry, in Ramallah, Abbas gave Serry an urgent letter to deliver to Ki-Moon.

The members of the Security Council expressed profound sorrow and condemned in the strongest terms the abduction and killing of a Palestinian teenager from East Jerusalem on 2 July, and extended their condolences and sympathies to the family of the victim of this heinous act and to the Palestinian people

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said the United States "condemns in the strongest possible terms" the death of 17-year-old Mohammed Abu Khdeir, which followed the discovery in the West Bank on Monday of the bodies of three abducted Israeli teenagers.

In a media release issued 3July 2014, The Australian Government offered its profound condolences to the family and friends of the Palestinian teenager found murdered in East Jerusalem on 2 July.

I strongly condemn the reported murder of a Palestinian boy in Jerusalem. I recall the Secretary-General’s message: there can be no justification for the deliberate killing of civilians – any civilians. The perpetrators of such heinous acts must be brought to justice. I repeat my call on all sides to do everything they can not to further exacerbate an already tense atmosphere. Our thoughts are with the bereaved family.