More UN officials voice concern at Israel's declaration of Gaza as 'hostile territory'
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour has voiced grave concern over Israel's decision to
declare the Gaza Strip a "hostile territory" and to announce military action, additional restrictions on the movement of
people and goods to and from the area, and reductions in the supply of fuel and electricity.
"The implementation of such measures would impose an unbearable burden on the civilian population of Gaza, which has
already paid a heavy price from daily violence, isolation and deprivation," Ms. Arbour said in a statement released last
night.
She condemned once again the indiscriminate firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel and urged Israel to exercise
restraint, recalling that it has the obligation under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect its
population without employing disproportionate means. She also recalled that international law prohibits reprisals and
collective punishment.
Ms. Arbour's statement was the latest expression of concern by UN officials. On Wednesday, when the Israel decision was
announced, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the 1.4 million people in Gaza, including the old, the young and the sick,
who are already suffering from the impact of prolonged closure, should not be punished for the unacceptable actions of
militants and extremists.
Yesterday, the Bureau of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People voiced
"great alarm" and called on Israel to reverse the move.
"We consider this decision to be a violation of international law, including international humanitarian law, and yet
another form of collective punishment of the Palestinian people, which, if implemented, is bound to substantially worsen
the already deplorable living conditions of the civilian population in the occupied Gaza Strip," it said in a statement.
It reiterated its position condemning "the killing of innocent civilians by both sides, including Israeli military
operations and the firing of rockets and mortar rounds by Palestinian groups. Such attacks by both sides must be stopped
immediately, and those responsible must be brought to justice," it added.
It warned that the decision "may considerably complicate current efforts of the international community to revitalize
the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and prevent the Palestinian Authority from promoting and marshalling public
support for dialogue towards peace. Nobody, including the Israeli people, will benefit from such a scenario," it added.
ENDS