Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people
in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem
A/RES/73/99
Reaffirming that all States have the right and the duty to take actions in
conformity with international law and international humanitarian law to counter
deadly acts of violence against their civilian population in order to protect the lives
of their citizens,
Stressing the need for full compliance with the Israeli-Palestinian agreements
reached within the context of the Middle East peace process, including the Sharm
el-Sheikh understandings, and the implementation of the Quartet road map to a
permanent two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, 11
Stressing also the need for the full implementation of the Agreement on
Movement and Access and the Agreed Principles for the Rafah Crossing, both of
15 November 2005, to allow for the freedom of movement of the Palestinian civilian
population within and into and out of the Gaza Strip,
Gravely concerned by the tensions and violence in the recent period throughout
the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and including with
regard to the holy places of Jerusalem, including the Haram al -Sharif, and deploring
the loss of innocent civilian life,
Recognizing that security measures alone cannot remedy the escalating tensions,
instability and violence, and calling for full respect for international law, including
humanitarian and human rights law, including for the protection of civilian life, as
well as for the promotion of human security, the de -escalation of the situation, the
exercise of restraint, including from provocative actions and rhetoric, and the
establishment of a stable environment conducive to the pursuit of peace,
Expressing grave concern about the continuing systematic violation of the
human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel, the occupying Power, including that
arising from the excessive use of force and military operations causing d eath and
injury to Palestinian civilians, including children, women and non -violent, peaceful
demonstrators, as well as journalists, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel;
the arbitrary imprisonment and detention of Palestinians, some of whom have b een
imprisoned for decades; the use of collective punishment; the closure of areas; the
confiscation of land; the establishment and expansion of settlements; the construction
of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in departure from the Armistice L ine
of 1949; the destruction of property and infrastructure; the forced displacement of
civilians, including attempts at forced transfers of Bedouin communities; and all other
actions by it designed to change the legal status, geographical nature and demog raphic
composition of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and
demanding the cessation of all such unlawful actions,
Gravely concerned by the ongoing demolition by Israel, the occupying Power,
of Palestinian homes, as well as of structures, including schools, provided as
international humanitarian aid, in particular in and around Occupied East Jerusalem,
including if carried out as an act of collective punishment in violation of international
humanitarian law, which has escalated at unprecedented rates, and by the revocation
of residence permits and eviction of Palestinian residents of the City of Jerusalem,
Deploring the continuing and negative consequences of the conflicts in and
around the Gaza Strip and the high number of causalities among Palestinian civilians
in the recent period, including among children,
Gravely concerned about the disastrous humanitarian situation and the critical
socioeconomic and security situation in the Gaza Strip, including that resulting from
the prolonged closures and severe economic and movement restrictions that in effect
amount to a blockade and deepen poverty and despair among the Palestinian civilian
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11
18-21438
S/2003/529, annex.
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