SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY DEPLORES ISRAEL’S CONTINUING GAZA STRIP RAIDS

SECRETARY-GENERAL STRONGLY DEPLORES ISRAEL’S CONTINUING GAZA STRIP RAIDS

      The following was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General
Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General strongly deplores Israel’s continuing raids in the Gaza Strip.  These have already killed at least 12 people in the course of yesterday and today, including a four-year-old girl shot in the chest and a young American peace activist run over by a bulldozer.  He sends his deepest condolences to the families of the innocent victims.

The Secretary-General is especially troubled that Israel appears to be flouting a central tenet of international humanitarian law, which requires it to take all possible measures to protect the civilian population during military operations.

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