Draft resolution on human rights violations emanating from Israeli military incursions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including the recent one in Northern Gaza and the assault on Beit Hanoun
Source: United Nations Human Rights Council
Date: 14 Nov 2006
The Human Rights Council,
Affirming the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civil Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem,
Gravely concerned at the continued violation by the occupying Power, Israel, of the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
Recognizing that the Israeli military incursions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the recent incursion in Northern Gaza and the assault on Beit Hanoun, constitute a collective punishment of the civilians therein and exacerbate the severe humanitarian crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
Taking note of the statement of the Secretary General of 8 November 2006 in which he stated that he
“was shocked to learn about the Israeli military operation carried out early today in a residential area in Beit Hanoun, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 18 Palestinians, including 8 children and 7 women.”,
Emphasizing that the Israeli targeting of Palestinian civilians including women and children constitutes a gross violation of human rights law and international humanitarian law,
Affirming that under international humanitarian law, the medical personnel and means of transport of the Palestine Red Crescent Society must be protected and respected in all circumstances,
1. Expresses its shock at the horror of Israeli targeting and killing of Palestinian civilians in Beit Hanoun while asleep and other civilians fleeing earlier Israeli bombardment;
2. Condemns the Israeli targeting and killing of Palestinian civilians, including women and children, as well as medics in Beit Hanoun and other Palestinian towns and villages, and calls for bringing the perpetrators thereof to justice;
3. Denounces the Israeli massive destruction of Palestinian homes, property and infrastructure in Beit Hanoun;
4. Expresses its alarm at the gross and systematic violations of human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory by the occupying Power, Israel, and calls for urgent international action to put an immediate end to these violations including those emanating from the series of incessant and repeated Israeli military incursions therein;
5. Calls for immediate protection of the Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in compliance with human rights law and international humanitarian law;
6. Decides to dispatch a high level fact-finding mission urgently to Beit Hanoun.
