Embassy of the State of Palestine

Within the last 24-hours, Israeli occupation forces killed at least 13 Palestinians and injured more than 38. Israeli warplanes relentlessly bombed on Saturday the Zafer Tower, a 14-story building which consists of 45 apartments. As a result at least 17 people were injured, including women and children and 45 families have been displaced.
As Israel continues its deliberate attacks on the defenseless Palestinian civilians in Gaza, the death toll has risen to 2105 and more than 10,640 wounded. Among those killed are at least 567 children, 259 women and 100 elderly.

Sina Institute at Birzeit University, with the Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation (CCHP) and University of Trento from Italy through its spin-off company OKKAM s.r.l, have deployed an innovative and pioneering electronic tourist guide for heritage sites in Bethlehem, using QR technologies. The initiative is part of the EU FP7 funded SIERA project.

The goal of the initiative is to enhance the experience of Palestine’s visitors and valorize the cultural heritage of Bethlehem City, through an innovative use of smartphones and tablets.

"I don’t like you, death
But I’m not afraid of you
And I know that my body is your bed
And my spirit is your bed cover
I know that your banks are narrow for me
I don’t love you, death
But I’m not afraid of you".
-One of Samih al-Qasim’s final poems
Beloved Palestinian poet Samih al-Qasim died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer, following a worsening of his health this past week. He was 75.
Al-Qasim — whose stature in Palestine ranked alongside Mahmoud Darwish’s — will be widely mourned.

Her Excellency, Rula Ma’ayah, Palestinian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, calls on the international community, especially the UNESCO, World Heritage Committee, ICOMOS, ICCROM, IUCN, ICOM, WAC, IAU and other international organizations to condemn the Israeli indiscriminate attacks against civilians and continuous violations of the international humanitarian law and the military targeting of cultural and natural heritage sites as war crimes and as intentional acts of destruction of cultural and natural heritage in violation of human rights.

Geneva, Aug 12: The UN Human Rights Council President Baudelaire Ndong Ella Monday announced a three-member panel to investigate the human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in the conflict-torn Gaza Strip. Ella appointed Canadian William Schabas to serve as chair of the independent international commission of inquiry, Xinhua reported. The commission also comprises British lawyer Amal Alamuddin and Doudou Diene from Senegal.

Read more at: http://news.oneindia.in/international/un-human-rights-council-appoints-panel-for-palestine-inquiry-1500878.html

According to Negotiation Affairs Department, Israeli Forces since July 8 have killed over 1916 people (including at least 449 children, 243 women and 87 elderly) and injured over 9870 people (including at least 3004 children, 1907 women and 359 elderly). Israel deliberately continue to target civilians. At least 16,735 buildings are not inhabitable and another 41,420 buildings have been damaged. At least 277 schools have been damaged by Israeli attacks; including: 141 government schools and 136 UNRWA schools.

In her statement the Hon Julie bishop said:"The violence must stop as soon as possible. I welcome the announcement of a 72-
hour humanitarian ceasefire to commence later today. Israel and Hamas must fully
commit to and implement this humanitarian pause. Then the priority must be to reach
a permanent ceasefire agreement that brings an end to the killing and recrimination.
All efforts must be directed at these objectives".

GENEVA — As a 72-hour cease-fire took hold in the Gaza Strip, a United Nations official said Tuesday that Israel’s nearly month long offensive had had a “catastrophic and tragic impact” on children in the territory and that reconstruction would require many hundreds of millions of dollars.

The conflict has killed 408 children and injured 2,502, Pernille Ironside, the head of the Unicef office in Gaza, said, briefing reporters in Geneva by telephone. About 373,000 children have had traumatic experiences and need psychosocial support, she said.

The Australian Government must use its position on the United Nations Security Council to push for an immediate ceasefire in Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

With reports of more than 1300 dead, including many children, the fighting must end now.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully has welcomed the Joint Statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United States Secretary of State John Kerry that there will be a 72 hour humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

“New Zealanders are rightly shocked at the events unfolding in Gaza and we call on both sides to implement an immediate ceasefire."