Nickolay Mladenov Summarizes Opening Comments of the United Nations Security Council Meeting # 8375, on October 18, 2018

October 22, 2018 

Editor's Note:

While brutal force has been used to create Zionist Israel and sustain it thus far, Zionist claims to Palestine are false. Actually, from the five thousand years of known written history, there has been a continuous Palestinian-Canaanite presence in the Holy Land. Despite the Zionist false claims, the ancient Israelites ruled part of the land for only 85 years (during the reign of David, Solomon, and Solomon's son).

 After that, the Egyptians conquered Palestine-Canaan in 925 BC, followed by Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans, before the Arab Muslim rule, starting from 636 AD.

By the Time Jesus started his mission, the three population groups of Canaanites, Palestinians, and Israelites were melted together in religion and language. Most of them became Christians when Constantine converted in 313 AD. Then, most of them became Muslims in the 7th and 8th centuries AD.

So, Palestinian Muslims, Christians, and Jews are the ones who have the right to claim descent from ancient Israelites, Palestinians, and Canaanites, not Zionists from other continents.

The following news stories are just examples of the Israeli occupation government violations of Palestinian human rights, on daily basis.

***

Nickolay Mladenov

Summary of the opening comments of the United Nations Security Council Meeting #8375,

October 18, 2018

PA to UN: “Gaza is Not a Humanitarian Problem, it is a Political Problem.”

October 21, 2018 5:57 AM Ali Salam

The following is a summary of the opening comments of the United Nations Security Council Meeting #8375 on October 18, 2018,  Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, the representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, made the following points (summarized below).

According to Mladenov,

Demolitions

OCHA (United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Efforts) reports 39 Palestinian structures demolished since the last meeting, and in addition to that, there are 13,000 demolition orders pending in area C of the West Bank, Occupied Palestine.

Khan al-Ahmar

The Arab League, the UK, the UAE, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and the United Nations Humanitarian Co-ordinator all urge Israel not to demolish the village of Khan al-Ahmar, (side note : the demolition of Khan al-Ahmar has been postponed until further notice, as of Oct. 20, 2018.

New Settlements

With regards to Israel’s allocation of funds for the construction of 31 new settlement units in Hebron, Mr. Mladenov reiterated ; “the long-standing United Nations position that all settlement activities are illegal under international law, and an obstacle to peace”

Violence and Settler Vandalism

23 attacks by settlers, where one Palestinian was killed, and 12 injured by settlers since last meeting. Two Israelis killed, and one injured by a Palestinian. OCHA reports 1600 trees vandalized,

Reduction in Fishing Zone

The fishing restrictions were increased two times in the last month, from nine nautical miles, then to six, then to three after the last rocket attack. Also after the rocket, all crossings between Israel and Gaza were closed.

Gaza

The Great Return March protests have been expanded to include night protests. Hamas and other resistance groups are allegedly sending incendiary kites causing fires in Israel.

On Oct 12 in Gaza, seven Palestinians were killed and one hundred and fifty injured at the weekly peaceful protest. 2 rockets were fired from Gaza, Israel responded with a series of airstrikes.

The Gazan economy was described by the World Bank as being “in free fall”, with the unemployment rate at 53%, and 70% for the youth. In addition to this, 50% of the population lives below the poverty line.

Mladenov warned of the dire situation in Gaza, and urged the council to act :

“The situation in Gaza is imploding. This is not hyperbole, it is not alarmism, it is reality.”

“All key indicators ; humanitarian, economic, security, and political continue to deteriorate.”

“Since the beginning of this process, the UN has firmly held that we need to make every effort to return Gaza to the control of the legitimate Palestinian government, but, let me assure this council, that barring substantial steps to reverse the current course, this precarious sense of calm is doomed to give way to the mounting pressure, It is already beginning to fray.”

“I’m afraid, that there is no more time for words, now is the time for action, and we must see very clear actions on all sides to de-escalate the situation, otherwise the consequences will be terrible for everyone.”

UNRWA ( United Nations Relief and Works Agency)

Some member states contributed a total of $122 million, in a “very impressive collective international effort, that has prevented an immediate shut down of key UNRWA services.”

Mladenov described some hopeful developments :

“a liaison committee agreed on an urgent set of humanitarian project in Gaza – aimed at addressing the immediate needs of the population of Gaza : these include energy, water, sanitation, healthcare and economic conditions.” “The goals are concrete, they are realistic, and they are achievable.”

He thanks the government of Qatar for their provision of $60 million worth fuel to run Gaza’s electricity.

He implored members of both sides :

“Madame president I appeal to you, I appeal to all council members, and to all friends of Israel and friends of Palestine, to join the United Nations in calling on all sides to step back from the brink. All parties must maintain their continued commitment to the 2014 cease-fire arrangements.”

Mr. Mladenov advised both sides :

“Hamas and other militant groups must immediately and effectively stop all provocations and attacks, including rockets and mortars, IED‘s, attempts to breach the fence, incendiary balloons and kites, tunnel construction, and rein in all of the violence at the border. Israel must restore the delivery of critical supplies to Gaza, and improve the movement and access for goods and people. Israeli Security Forces must exercise maximum restraint in the use of live ammunition.”

“The Palestinian Authority (PA) must not disengage from Gaza and must continue it’s engagement with the international community to help alleviate the suffering of it’s people in Gaza.” “Any effort by any party to block the provision critical assistance, designed to relieve humanitarian suffering must not be tolerated.”

He continued :

“We must never forget, that at its heart, Gaza is not a humanitarian problem, it is a political problem.”

Mr. Mladenov also outlines potential next steps:

“Humanitarian efforts are taking place in coordination with, and in support of Egyptian efforts to bring Gaza back to the full control of the legitimate Palestinian government.”

“The government’s return to Gaza, and the lifting of the suffocating movement and access restrictions, are necessary for addressing the humanitarian, the economic needs of the population, in a sustainable manner, but also addressing the very important political challenges ahead. “

“In addition to the unification of all Palestinians under one single legitimate Palestinian National Authority, the bigger picture must also be addressed, an end to the occupation, and the realization of the two state solution, based on relevant United Nations resolutions.”

“Madame President, in closing let me reiterate that we must break out of the endless cycle of emergency responses and stopgap measures. The Palestinian people, whether they live in the West Bank including East Jerusalem, whether they live in Gaza, or as refugees in the region, deserve a sustainable and just solution, just as the people of Israel deserve peace and security.”

***

PCHR: For the 30th Friday of Return and Breaking Siege March, Israeli Forces    Wound 275 Civilians, including 49 Children, 3 Women, 3 Journalists, 4    Paramedics and 10 Sustaining Serious Wounds   October 20, 2018 8:20 PM PCHR                             On Friday, 19 October 2018, in excessive use of force against peaceful protesters on the 30th Friday of the March of Return and Breaking the Siege, Israeli forces wounded 275 Palestinian civilians, including 49 children, 3 women, 3 journalists and 4 paramedics, with live bullets and directly hit teargas canisters in eastern Gaza Strip.  Ten of those wounded sustained serious wounds. According to the fieldworkers of Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) during the reporting period, in light of wide-scale incitement by the Israeli highest military and political echelons against the protests and giving them a lead time until today to end them, the Israeli forces intensified the use of excessive force against the peaceful demonstrators though the organizers of the protests and Palestinian factions called for “maintaining the peaceful and popular nature of the protests and their tools” in addition to demanding “to take all measures to prevent and fail any opportunity for the Israeli snipers to take down the protestors.”  PCHR’s investigations and fieldworkers’ observations emphasize that the Israeli forces heavily opened fire at the protestors, inflicting many casualties.  Though no killings were reported, there were 10 persons seriously wounded.  Moreover, though limited attempts to approach the border fence were reported in the demonstration areas, there was no imminent threat posed to the life of the Israeli soldiers and the protests were totally peaceful.  PCHR’s fieldworkers did not witness any armed manifestations while the Israeli soldiers continued to position on the top of sand berms and hills, in military jeeps and tanks along the border fence.  This proves that Israeli forces continue to use excessive force against the protestors upon highest Israeli military and political echelons despite no danger or threat posed to the life of Israeli soldiers.  It should be mentioned that before the protests started today, the Israeli forces deployed large forces and tanks along the security border fence with the Gaza Strip and adjacent to residential areas in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip. The incidents on 19 October  2018, were as follows: At approximately 15:00, thousands of civilians, including women, children and entire families, started swarming to the 5 encampments established by the Supreme National Authority for the Great March of Return and Breaking Siege along the border fence, east of the Gaza Strip governorates. They raised flags and chanted national songs. Hundreds, including children and women, approached the border fence with Israel, set fire to tires and gathered 300 meters away from the main border fence. Some of them attempted to throw stones at the Israeli forces, limitedly threw Molotov Cocktails and pulled parts of the second barbed-wire few meters away from the fence established inside the Palestinian territories few meters away from the border fence and in limited cases, they threw Molotov Cocktails along the border fence. However, there was no threat posed on the lives of Israeli soldiers stationed behind barracks and sand berms, 70 meters away the border fence.  The Israeli shooting, which continued until 18:30, resulted in the injury of  275 civilians, including 49 children, 3 women, 3 journalists and 4 paramedics, were hit with live bullets and direct tear gas canisters. Ten of those wounded sustained serious wounds in addition dozens suffering tear gas inhalation and seizures after tear gas canisters were heavily fired by the Israeli soldiers from the military jeeps and riffles in the eastern Gaza Strip. Moreover, at approximately 17:25, an Israeli drone launched 2 missiles at civilians in an olive field that is around 800 meters away to the west of the Return encampment in Khuza’ah in eastern Khan Younis.  As a result, 4 civilians were wounded.  Table of Civilian Casualties due to the Israeli Suppression since the Beginning of the Great March of Return on 30 March  Notes Medical Crews Journalists Women Children Total Casualties Among those Killed, there are 5 Persons with Disabilities and a girl 3 2 1 33 163 Killed Among those wounded, 479 are in serious condition and 76 had their lower or upper limbs amputated.  The number of those wounded only include those wounded with live bullet and directly hit with tear gas canisters as there have been thousand others who suffered tear gas inhalation. 122 110 238 1521 8770 Wounded PCHR hereby condemns the crimes committed by the Israeli forces, believing it is as a result of Israel’s enjoying impunity thanks to the U.S. and so encouraging the Israeli forces to commit further crimes upon an official decision by the highest military and political echelons. PCHR emphasizes that continuously targeting civilians, who exercise their right to peaceful assembly or while carrying out their humanitarian duty, is a serious violation of the rules of international law, international humanitarian law, the ICC Rome Statute and Fourth Geneva Convention. Thus, PCHR calls upon the ICC Prosecutor to open an official investigation in these crimes and to prosecute and hold accountable all those applying or involved in issuing orders within the Israeli Forces at the security and political echelons. PCHR also reiterates its call upon the High Contracting Parties to the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention to fulfill their obligations under Article 1; i.e., to respect and ensure respect for the Convention in all circumstances and their obligations under Article 146 to prosecute persons alleged to commit grave breaches of the Fourth Geneva Convention. PCHR calls upon Switzerland, in its capacity as the Depository State for the Convention, to demand the High Contracting Parties to convene a meeting and ensure Israel’s respect for this Convention, noting that these grave breaches constitute war crimes under Article 147 of the same Convention and Protocol (I) Additional to the Geneva Conventions regarding the guarantee of Palestinian civilians’ right to protection in the occupied territories.

***