Ramallah, 17-04-08: Separate Israeli military attacks on civilian targets – including a mosque, homes and a hospital - in the Gaza Strip today have killed 20 Palestinians, including at least 5 children and a journalist working with the Reuters news agency. The deaths bring the number of Palestinians killed since Annapolis to 388, including 51 children.
Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi MP, Secretary General of the PNI expressed his disgust at the killings and said that Israel has exceeded all limits in its violations of international law, human rights and its attacks on civilians.
Stressing that Gaza remains under Israeli occupation, Dr. Barghouthi underlined that invasions, killings, assassinations and collective punishment will not bring security to anyone.
"The Israeli government can ensure the security of its people by lifting its siege on Gaza, retracting its decision to declare Gaza a ’hostile entity’, ending its military aggression against the Gazan people, and implementing a comprehensive, reciprocal ceasefire, thereby ensuring the security of Palestinians too," he added.
Dr. Barghouthi called urgently on the international community, particularly the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to oblige Israeli to abide by international law, to end its collective punishment and siege on the Gaza Strip and its attacks on civilians and civilian targets, and to observe its responsibilities as an occupying power as per the Fourth Geneva Conventions.