NEW YORK, March 31, 2018 (WAFA) - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on Friday for an independent and transparent investigation into Israeli army killing of 15 Palestinian civilians and wounding over 1400 others on the Gaza border.
An estimated 50,000 Palestinians were participating in the Great March of Return organized to coincide with Land Day and which is supposed to continue through May 15, the Nakba (catastrophe) Day when Israeli snipers deployed on the borders shot and killed 15 participants and wounded hundreds others.
Guterres call for a probe came as the Security Council convened an emergency meeting at the request of Kuwait, this month’s chair, so its members could be briefed on the deadly incidents.
The United States and Israel attempted to delay a Council meeting on the ground that Israel was observing the first night of the Jewish Passover holiday.
A statement issued by a UN spokesman said the Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the reports of the deadly clashes and he appealed to those concerned to refrain from any act that could lead to further casualties, particularly measures that could place civilians in harm’s way.
“This tragedy underlines the urgency of revitalizing the peace process aiming at creating the conditions for a return to meaningful negotiations for a peaceful solution that will allow Palestinians and Israelis to live side by side peacefully and in security,” the statement said, reaffirming the readiness of the United Nations to support the process.
Meanwhile, Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, the deputy UN political affairs chief, told the Security Council that soon after the demonstrations started, the situation turned deadly in several spots.
“There is fear the situation might deteriorate in the coming days,” said Mr. Zerihoun, telling the Council that the UN would continue to stress that civilians should not be targeted and that all actors refrain from putting children at risk.
He also called on Israel to uphold its responsibilities under international law, emphasizing that lethal force should only be used as a last resort, with any resulting fatalities properly investigated by the authorities.
“The developments in Gaza today are again a painful reminder of the consequences of a missing peace between Israel and Palestine, and the need to step up our efforts in support of a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” he concluded.
M.K.
