International rejection of Israeli collective punishment measures against Gaza

[ 30/10/2007 - 05:28 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, on Tuesday criticized the Israeli new collective punishment measures on the Gaza Strip, describing them as "unacceptable" and doubled the human suffering of the Gaza inhabitants.

The UN senior executive urged the Israeli government to re-consider the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip and urged all parties concerned to protect Palestinian civilians.

For her part, the EU commissioner for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, condemned the measures that affect the basic necessities of the Palestinians and warned of mass punishment against the Strip.

She underlined that the new penalties would lead to "serious consequences" on the local population.

A Russian foreign ministry statement said that the isolation and punishments would affect the inhabitants' basic needs.

The organization of Islamic conference denounced the Israeli mass punishments and warned of its serious ramifications on the human and health fields.

The Israeli prosecutor general Mini Mazuz had refused his government's decision to cut power supply to the Strip but approved other economic sanctions.

Official Palestinian sources asserted that Israeli fuel to the Gaza electricity station were slashed starting on Sunday along with diesel and benzene by a percentage reaching quarter to half the usual quantity.

Ban Ki- Moon: Punitive Measures Taken by Israel on Gaza Unacceptable

NEW YORK, October 30, 2007 (WAFA)-

UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon believed strongly that punitive measures taken by Israel which harm the well-being of the entire population of the Gaza Strip are unacceptable.

In a statement, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General said the limitation of fuel and electricity supplies deepens the humanitarian distress of the 1.4 million residents of Gaza, as does the reduction of the supply of essential commodities and the tightening of restrictions on movement and access.

The Secretary-General calls upon Israel to reconsider its actions and for all concerned to protect civilians and to meet their obligations under international law. He reiterated his call for the cessation of indiscriminate rocket attacks by Palestinian militants targeting Israel and strongly condemns these actions.

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