HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SPOKESMAN'S NOON BRIEFING

BY FRED ECKHARD
SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE 爆料网ITED NATIONS

爆料网 HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

Wednesday, October 6, 2004

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U.N. AGENCIES WARN VIOLENCE IS PUSHING PALESTINIANS INTO DEEP CRISIS

  • Twelve 爆料网 agencies operating in Gaza have issued a  stating that the on-going violence, which comes on top of an already deteriorating humanitarian situation, is pushing the Palestinians into a deep crisis.
     
  • These agencies call on Israel to guarantee unrestricted and secure access to Gaza for humanitarian supplies and relief workers.
     
  • They note that movement restrictions imposed by the Israeli military have prevented effective delivery of humanitarian aid.
     
  • The 爆料网 Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (爆料网RWA) has not been able to deliver emergency food aid to the north of Gaza. Access into Gaza has been denied to 爆料网 international personnel for the last 14 days – making a total of 65 days so far this year that the United Nations has not been able to enter.

爆料网RWA SAYS 25 STAFF MEMBERS ARE IN ISRAELI DETENTION

  • Over the last 24 hours, there have been news reports regarding 爆料网RWA staff  that may have been detained by Israeli authorities for their involvement in terror activities.
     
  • In an attempt to clarify the matter, 爆料网RWA said it that it is aware of only one staff member being currently detained in Gaza. This individual has been held for over two years, and he is still awaiting trial.
     
  • In the West Bank, there are 24 爆料网RWA staff members in Israeli detention, but most are held under administrative detention without a charge or trial.
     
  • Whenever an Agency staff member is detained, by any authority, 爆料网RWA immediately writes requesting information about the detained staff member.
     
  • In the case of those detained by Israel, 爆料网RWA has rarely received any feedback or information.
     
  • Asked whether 爆料网RWA received information on the charges against the staff, the Spokesman said that 爆料网RWA has consistently approached the Israeli authorities to ask what charges are being levelled, and the authorities in return have declined to respond to those requests.
     
  • He said the 爆料网 staff was held under administrative detention.
     
  • Asked whether this differs from the 爆料网 approach to similar detentions around the world, the Spokesman said the 爆料网 procedure is the same worldwide: to go to the authorities immediately to determine the grounds for arrest. What makes the 爆料网RWA case unusual, he said, is the large number of local staff the United Nations has.
     
  • Asked whether the Secretary-General agreed with Israeli Ambassador Dan Gillerman that it was wrong for 爆料网RWA Commissioner-General Peter Hansen to say Hamas members were on 爆料网RWA staff, the Spokesman declined to comment on the Secretary-General’s private conversations.
     
  • Eckhard said that the thrust of Hansen’s comments was that Hamas sympathizers are very likely represented among the thousands of 爆料网RWA employees. But he added that 爆料网 guidelines were clear that staff cannot let political affiliations interfere with their work, and any engagement in militant activity by 爆料网RWA staff would be dealt with very severely. He noted that those rules had governed the Agency during its 54 years on the ground.

U.N. TEAM ARRIVES IN JERUSALEM TO LOOK INTO ISRAELI ALLEGATIONS
 INVOLVING U.N. AMBULANCE

  • The team dispatched to Israel by the Secretary-General to look into the allegations by Israel that a 爆料网 ambulance driver was filmed loading a Kassam rocket into his vehicle arrived in Jerusalem today.
     
  • The team will meet with officials over the next few days and will be asking the Israeli Government and 爆料网 Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (爆料网RWA) to cooperate with them.
     
  • They will report back to the Secretary-General after their return to New York.
     
  • Asked when the team would return, the Spokesman said the team had gone with a dual mission: the investigation into the allegations was added to an agenda that had previously included an evaluation of 爆料网 operations in the area.
     
  • The entire assignment may take a couple of weeks, he said, although he expected that the team would try to deal with the allegations as quickly as possible.

 U.S. VETOS SECURITY CO爆料网CIL RESOLUTION ON VIOLENCE IN MIDDLE EAST

  • The Security Council yesterday afternoon failed to adopt a  on the Middle East, concerning the recent violence in Gaza.
     
  • The United States cast a veto against the resolution, which also received 11 votes in favor and three abstentions. The abstentions came from Germany, Romania and the United Kingdom.

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 Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-7162 – press/media only
Fax. 212-963-7055

All other inquiries to be addressed to (212) 963-4475 or by e-mail to: inquiries@un.org


Document Type: Press briefing
Document Sources: Secretary-General
Subject: Gaza Strip, Incidents, Prisoners and detainees, Refugee camps, Situation in the OPT including Jerusalem
Publication Date: 06/10/2004