Dr. Ashrawi: "Neither Israel nor its extremist settlers should be granted the license to commit murder and terror"

PLO Executive Committee member, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, called on the United Nations Security Council “to uphold its responsibilities in maintaining international peace and security throughout the world and to act immediately to put an end to further Israeli acts of excessive force and violence throughout the West Bank (including occupied East Jerusalem) and in Gaza. Israel must be held accountable for its flagrant violations of international law and vicious attacks and crimes against the Palestinians.”

This call to action came in response to Israel’s extrajudicial killing of 9 Palestinians by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza overnight; the two Palestinian workers (Zahi Subi Abu Hamed from Qalqiliya and Anwar Astal from Tulkarem) who were run over and killed by a settler on the side of the road in Haifa; and the ongoing Israeli campaign of terror and aggression throughout the occupied Palestinian territory:

“We strongly denounce the targeting and killing of innocent Palestinian civilians, the repeated kidnapping of and violence against Palestinian children, and the countless arrests of Palestinian men, women and children. Such actions are the direct result of Israel’s willful attempts to expand its land grab and subjugation of the Palestinian people.”

“In addition, the number of incidents of Palestinians, including children, assaulted and run over by Israeli settlers has risen significantly, and Israel and its army have done very little to prevent further settler violence against Palestinians or to bring the settlers to justice.”

“Since Israel and its violent settler population continue to enjoy immunity for their actions time after time, we call on all members of the international community to act quickly and stop granting Israel a license to commit murder and terror. Now is the time for the world to safeguard the rights of the Palestinian people and to bring Israel to adhere to its legal obligations and responsibilities as outlined in international law and conventions,” concluded Dr. Ashrawi.

To access this press release on the PLO DCI website, please click here.