UNRWA KUWAIT, Jan 19 (KUNA) -- His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, condemning the Israeli "invasion" of Gaza as crimes against humanity and war crimes, announced Monday that Kuwait would donate USD 34 million to honor UN Relief and Works Agency's (UNRWA) immediate needs in Palestinian territories.
Addressing the opening session of a two-day Arab Economic summit, Sheikh Sabah applauded the resistance of the Palestinian people to defend their humanitarian dignity, withholding their natural right to establish their independent state in order to have decent and secured life.
"Our weaponless families in Gaza are facing an atrocious Israeli aggression targeting innocents and demolishing all pillars of life," asserted the Amir.
The Israeli aggression against Gaza Strip, which started on December 27 of last year, killed over 1,200 Palestinians and injured more than 5,300 others as well as causing a devastating damage to properties and infrastructure.
The Israeli war machine had also bombarded UN facilities in the besieged Gaza Strip, derailing the work of the UN staff in the strip.
Sheikh Sabah, in a drive to help the UN continue its services in the occupied territories, said Kuwait would donate USD 34 million to enable UNRWA honor the urgent needs of the Palestinian people, and would also contribute to international efforts of the Donors' countries.
Sheikh Sabah said the "volume and ferocity of this (Israeli) aggression, the international prohibited weapons and bombardments that have been used, the period of time it has taken until now, the sites it has targeted, and the full devastation of each life facility in Gaza, all of that is not in consistent and conformity with Israel's allegations in waging this aggression." He described the Israeli invasion was a "war crime and a crime against humanity.
"It is a crime condemned and prohibited by the international laws. It also manifests a blatant violation of the simplest principle of human rights," he asserted.
Sheikh Sabah said the Arab economic summit was held with echoes of the Israeli aggression "pre-dominating us, the moaning of the Palestinian people and its children in Gaza, and the killing and devastation scenes are drowning our consciousness." He said the Arab leaders should agree on practical steps to maintain the ceasefire which was announced by Israel and Hamas.
He said the Arab leaders should also agree on alleviating the continuous suffering of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state to live in peace and security in the region.
Sheikh Sabah called for immediate and unconditional implementation of UN resolution 1860, which was adopted by the Security Council recently, to pave way for full and unconditional Israel withdrawal from the occupied territories and lift and siege on Gaza.
Sheikh Sabah and appreciated Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's call for an international summit in Sharm El-Sheikh which reiterated the ceasefire, called for opening of the crossings, completion of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza to provide humanitarian aid and calling for a donors' conference.
"The disrespect of Israel to the last Security Council Resolution - as it has always ignored the international legitimate resolutions and bilateral and multilateral commitments - it proves to the world over and over again that the reality of the Israeli intentions is in depending on the right of power and ignoring the power of right," said Sheikh Sabah.
"It is undoubtedly wrong if it believes that the power approach would ensure achieving security and stability. So many and repeatedly are the evidences in its history," he added, called for dialogue, negotiations, understanding and respect of UN resolutions.
Sheikh Sabah called on Arab leaders to contribute to the reconstruction of Gaza Strip within the framework of international effort.
The Kuwaiti leader urged, meanwhile, the Palestinian leaders to achieve unification, consolidation and cooperation.
Sheikh Sabah said the Arab peace initiative, adopted in the 2002 Beirut summit, "represent the base of our clear and honest Arab stance" to tackle the Arab-Israeli conflict. (end) Kt KUNA 191341 Jan 09NNNN