NAM, G77, China Condemn Israeli Aggressions against Palestinians

The Joint Coordinating Committee of the Non-Aligned Movement (JCC), the Group of 77 and China in a communique issued on Saturday strongly condemned Israel’s massacre of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and called for an immediate end to Tel Aviv’s attacks on Gazans.
“The JCC calls on the Security Council to act immediately to call for and secure a ceasefire, contribute to a de-escalation of the crisis situation on the ground, and salvage the prospects for realizing a just and lasting peace and security, and recognizes the urgent call in this regard by the Security Council in its Presidential Statement of 28 July 2014,” the communiqué said.

The full text of the communiqué is as follows:

Communiqué of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77 and China calling for an end to the Israeli military Aggression against the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip

The Members of the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) strongly condemn the ongoing military aggression by Israel, the occupying Power, against the Palestinian people in the

Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, which has caused high civilian casualties, particularly in the Gaza Strip, where more than 1,000 Palestinians, including hundreds of children, women and elderly persons, have been killed by the Israeli occupying forces, and more than 6,000 civilians have been injured, and more than 180,000 civilians have been displaced.

The JCC condemns this wanton killing and injury of Palestinian civilians, including the

killing of many families in their entirety, and condemns the massive destruction of homes and vital civilian infrastructure, including water and sanitation networks, compounding the humanitarian crisis and suffering of the 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza, who have been

enduring massive collective punishment under Israel’s inhumane eight-year blockade. The JCC expresses grave concern about the deepening humanitarian crisis and calls for the urgent provision of emergency humanitarian assistance to meet the needs of the civilian population.

The JCC strongly condemns all violence against civilians wherever it occurs and urges all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The JCC calls on both parties and all concerned regional and international parties to urgently engaged in efforts to achieve a durable and fully respected ceasefire to de-escalate this dangerous situation and protect civilian lives.

The JCC condemns the targeting of UNRWA facilities, including schools, by Israel, the occupying Power, which has lead to the death of civilians, particularly women and children seeking shelter and safety under the United Nations flag. The JCC calls for an immediate transparent investigation by the United Nations of the bombardment of the UNRWA elementary school in Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip on 24 July 2014, in which at least 17 Palestinian civilians were killed, and stresses the imperative to ensure accountability for such crimes.

The Members of the JCC demand an immediate end to Israel’s military aggression against the Palestinian people, and call on the international community, in particular the Security Council, to exert all efforts to bring a halt to Israeli military operations in Gaza and to ensure a sustainable ceasefire, in line with the November 2012 ceasefire. In this regard, the JCC also calls for serious efforts to compel full respect for international humanitarian law and ensure protection for the Palestinian civilian population and calls for the lifting of the Israeli blockade and an end to all measures of collective punishment against the Palestinian civilian population.

The JCC stresses that a firm message must be conveyed to Israel, the occupying Power, to cease its military attacks, as well as all human rights violations, against the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Israel must be demanded to abide forthwith by all of its obligations under the international law, particularly the 4 Geneva Convention, and by all relevant United Nations resolutions. They further stress the need to hold Israel, the occupying Power, accountable for all its breaches of international humanitarian law and human rights violations.

The JCC calls on the Security Council to act immediately to call for and secure a ceasefire, contribute to a de-escalation of the crisis situation on the ground, and salvage the prospects for realizing a just and lasting peace and security, and recognizes the urgent call in this regard by the Security Council in its Presidential Statement of 28 July 2014. The Security Council must uphold its Charter duties with an immediate viewing to saving and protecting innocent civilian lives and averting the further destabilization of the situation, which constitutes a threat to regional and international peace and security, and must adopt a resolution to this effect.

At this time of crisis, the Members of the JCC reaffirm their unwavering support and solidarity to the Palestinian people and their resilient efforts to realize their inalienable rights and legitimate national aspirations for freedom, justice and peace.