Palestinian Authority to pursue those responsible for Israel’s crimes through the international tribunal courts
Press Release form the Palestinian Delegate to the United Kingdom
The Palestinian Delegate to the United Kingdom, Professor Manuel Hassassian today condemned the continuing cowardly Israeli bombardment of Gaza which has resulted in over 600 deaths and thousands of injuries half of whom have been children and women. The latest atrocity took place today when 40 Palestinians were slaughtered and 46 were seriously injured while taking refuge in a Untied Nations run school in Jabalya. A further 13 members of one family were killed in Eastern Gaza.
Professor Hassassian said: “These war crimes follow numerous crimes that have been committed by Israel since its creation 60 years ago. Israel tells the world that it is using the most sophisticated and accurate weaponry to avoid civilian casualties. How then can this happen? The only answer is that Israel is deliberately targeting civilians because its fight is not with Hamas but with all the Palestinian people.
Last Friday, I called for the following:
· An immediate end to Israel’s military assault on Gaza
· A sustained ceasefire
· An immediate end to the blockade and siege on Gaza
· An end to Israel’s violations of international law
· An end to Israeli occupation”
However, there has been neither an end to the onslaught nor a lifting of the blockade to allow humanitarian organisation to fulfil their missions. Millions of pounds in aid have been collected but the badly needed supplies of food and medicine are not getting through to those who are in dire need. How long do the Palestinian people need to wait for a ceasefire? How many more Gazans must die before the International Community shoulders its responsibility for stopping this carnage? We need action now to save lives.”
Professor Hassassian added that “In the absence of any tangible action from the International Community, the Palestinian leadership today started the process of pursuing those Israelis responsible for these heinous crimes through the International Courts. We owe it to the hundreds of children, women and men that have been killed and maimed to ensure that those responsible are made to account for their crimes.”
For further information and for interviews contact:
Palestinian General Delegation
5 Galena Road
Hammersmith W6 0LT
Tel: 0208 5630008
Fax: 0208 5630058
