WASHINGTON, April 7, 2018 (WAFA) – Failure to hold Israel accountable for its killing of Palestinian civilians means the bloodshed is going to continue, Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) General Delegation to the United States, said on Friday.

Zomlot was commenting on Israel’s shooting and killing of 10 Palestinian civilians, including children, and injuring hundreds others, many in critical condition, on Friday during the second week of peaceful protests at the Gaza border. Israel last Friday killed 19 Palestinians and injured over 1400 others in the first week of the Great Return March activity.

“Until the international community holds Israel accountable for its indiscriminate attacks and unlawful killings of peaceful protestors, the bloodshed will continue,” said the PLO diplomat. “The culture of impunity for Israel must end now.”

Zomlot further said that, “the continued killings of Palestinian civilians by Israel could have been avoided if the international community took action last week in the UN Security Council, including forming an international commission of inquiry to send a clear message to Israel that those who commit violations of international law will be brought to justice.”

He called for the international protection for the people of Palestine and for the full application of international humanitarian law. “Palestinian lives are not an exception to international law,” he stated.

He added that, “Israel’s predetermined policy to unlawfully shoot and kill Palestinians that are engaging in their internationally enshrined right to peacefully protest exemplifies the urgency and necessity for the international community, including the United States, to hold Israel to its obligations under international law including the Fourth Geneva Convention.”

Zomlot concluded that, “despite the continued attacks and human rights violations against the people of Palestine, we maintain our dignity and rights to continue our peaceful march towards peace and justice.”

M.K.