LOC17:04
14:04 GMT
PARIS, Jan 22 (KUNA) -- France said on Thursday that Israel was still
blocking certain humanitarian goods and diplomats from entering Gaza and it
reiterated a call on the Israeli authorities to open all crossing points to
the Palestinian Territory.
"Concerning our humanitarian aid ... we have noted blockades by the Israeli
authorities concerning the passage of certain humanitarian material and
diplomats," Foreign Ministry spokesman Frederic Desagneaux said in response to
a KUNA question.
"We call on the Israeli authorities to lift these blockades, given the
seriousness of the humanitarian situation."
On other issues related to Gaza and the three-week, Israeli onslaught,
Desagneaux said that France wanted respect for international law to be applied
in the Palestinian Territory, "notably the fourth Geneva Convention relative
to the responsibility of the occupying power in the area of protection of
civilians."
Israel has been accused by many quarters, including the UNRWA, the
International Committee of the Red Cross, Amnesty International and Human
Rights Watch, among others, of violations regarding civilians, UN
installations, hospitals, schools, ambulances and medical personnel.
The use of phosphorous weapons by Israel has also been broadly condemned
because of the high density population in Gaza.
Nonetheless, France abstained from a recent attempt to condemn Israel in
the Human Rights Council, arguing that the text proposed was not balanced.
On the other hand, the UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, on a visit to Gaza
this week, labeled Israeli attacks against UN installations "scandalous and
totally unacceptable" and he said those responsible should be held to account
in front of a tribunal.
France, at the time of the attacks on the UN installations, had condemned
these attacks but failed to mention who was responsible, although, when
pressured, officials here admitted "the shelling was probably Israeli."
Desagneaux noted the earlier French condemnation and added that France
"shares the concerns of the United Nations Secretary-General and gives him
full support."
The UN chief says he will decide what action to take on the Israeli
shelling once he has all the elements. (end)
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KUNA 221704 Jan 09NNNN