A/RES/67/116
Affirming the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection
of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, 5 to the Palestinian territory
occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem,
Aware of the continuing needs of the Palestine refugees in all fields of
operation, namely, Jordan, Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic and the Occupied
Palestinian Territory,
Gravely concerned about the extremely difficult socioeconomic conditions
being faced by the Palestine refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,
including East Jerusalem, particularly in the refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, as a
result of the continuing prolonged Israeli closures, the construction of settlements
and the wall, and the severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect
amount to a blockade, which have deepened unemployment and poverty rates
among the refugees with potentially lasting, long-term negative effects,
Gravely concerned also about the continuing negative repercussions of the
military operations in the Gaza Strip between December 2008 and January 2009,
which caused extensive loss of life and injury, particularly among Palestinian
civilians, including children and women; widespread destruction and damage to
Palestinian homes, properties, vital infrastructure and public institutions, including
hospitals, schools and United Nations facilities; and internal displacement of
civilians, including refugees,
Commending the extraordinary efforts by the Agency to provide emergency
relief, medical, food, shelter and other humanitarian assistance to needy and
displaced families in the Gaza Strip,
Recalling, in this regard, its resolution ES-10/18 of 16 January 2009 and
Security Council resolution 1860 (2009) of 8 January 2009,
Expressing regret over the continued restrictions that impede the Agency’s
efforts to repair and rebuild thousands of damaged or destroyed refugee shelters,
and calling upon Israel to ensure the unimpeded import of essential construction
materials into the Gaza Strip, while taking note of recent developments regarding
the situation of access there,
Expressing concern about the severe classroom shortage in the Gaza Strip and
the consequent negative impact on the right to education of refugee children as a
result of the constraints on the ability of the Agency to construct new schools due to
Israel’s ongoing restrictions impeding the entry of necessary construction materials
into the Gaza Strip,
Stressing the urgent need for the advancement of reconstruction in the Gaza
Strip, including by ensuring the timely facilitation of construction projects as well
as the swift entry of construction materials needed for projects managed by the
Agency, and the need for the accelerated implementation of other urgent United
Nations-led civilian reconstruction activities,
Urging the timely disbursement of remaining pledges made at the International
Conference in Support of the Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Gaza,
held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 2 March 2009, to accelerate the reconstruction
process,
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5
2
Ibid., vol. 75, No. 973.