{news} Fw: [al-awda-CT] Palestinian NGOs CONDEMN US unconditional support for Israel

[Justine McCabe]

 PNGO STATEMENT OF CONDEMNATION OF ISRAELI ATTACK ON NORTH GAZA AND A
 CALL ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY FOR INTERVENTION

 The Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO) calls
 upon the United Nations, and the international community, to intervene
 and stop the Israeli attacks on the Palestinian people, which have been
 concentrated in the northern Gaza Strip since the night of 28 September
 2004. The serious escalation of Israeli attacks against Palestinian
 citizens and property utilizing heavy arms, including tanks and air
 force, caused outrageous impacts of civilian life and property. During
11 days of the attack, codenamed "Days of Penitence", 115 Palestinians
 were killed, including 31 children, at least 75 Palestinian houses were
destroyed,
 and about 400 dunams [100 acres] of agricultural land was leveled by the
Israeli forces.

It should be noted here that the Israeli attack has been concentrated
on Jabaliya Refugee Camp, the most densely populated area in the world,
in addition to major parts of north Gaza towns of Beit Lahia and Beit
Hanoun. Thousands of Palestinian citizens are suffering due to the
 tight closures imposed by Israeli forces on the area, the lack of food
 and water, and the continuous electricity cut-off. Additionally,
 Israeli occupation forces continue to impose closure and siege on the
 Gaza Strip, closing borders and the international crossing point, and
 dividing the Strip into three isolated cantons.

The PNGO, a coordinating body for more than 100 NGOs, condemns the
 United States' unconditioned support for Israel, which was recently
 embodied in vetoing of the United Nations Security Council draft
 resolution on this attack. The resolution, which was tabled by Algeria
 and Tunisia, demanded halt to Israeli military action in Gaza and that
Israel respects international law. The U.S.'s veto allowed the attack
to continue.

 The PNGO calls upon the international community to stop its silence and
 act to protect civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).
 PNGO believes that condemnation of the Israeli violations is not
 sufficient, and demands effective pressure on Israel to ensure respect
 for international law and treaties, including the Fourth Geneva
 Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Times of
 War.

 PNGO also calls on the international community and human rights
 organizations to intensify their actions to stop the Israeli attack on
 Palestinian civilians, especially children, and their property. The
 PNGO calls on the United Nations to dispatch a monitoring and
 protection mission to the OPT, as a critical step to spare civilian
 life and property, and to take the necessary measures to ensure respect
 for international law.


 Palestinian Network of NGOs,
Gaza City, 12 October 2004