The Chilean Government strongly condemns the Israeli military attack that took place yesterday, Sunday, August 3rd, outside a school managed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) that sheltered more than three thousand civilians, killing at least 10 of them. Chile joins the UN Secretary-General's condemnation to this attack and expresses its solidarity, extending it to the Palestinian Government and population.
Chile highlights, with consternation that the coordinates of such school and the circumstance of serving as refuge for civilians had been informed to the Ministry of Defense of Israel on several occasions, precisely to prevent any attack. The suspicion that Hamas militants were in the whereabouts cannot legally justify military actions that endanger thousands of civilians.
This attack –the seventh one that affects a school under the United Nations banner serving as refuge for civilians- is a new and serious violation of International Humanitarian Law, as well as of appropriate protection to UN facilities and personnel.
Under the given circumstances, the attacks against civilians could constitute war crimes which must be investigated and the perpetrators taken to courts. Once again Chile strongly states that Israel has the legal and moral obligation to conform its military actions to International Humanitarian Law which establishes the principle of distinction between civilians and combatants, as well as that of proportionality in the use of force that conditions and limits legitimate self-defense.
The violation of ceasefire, on August 1st is causing tragic consequences to Palestinian civilians who not only are victims of indiscriminate violence, but also are faced to the obstacles to the distribution of humanitarian aid, especially food and drugs.
Chile calls for an end to this collective insanity that has caused the death of thousands of civilian, including women and children, and for an immediately start of peace talks based on the proposal by Egypt.
The Israel - Palestine conflict will only be resolved through serious peace negotiations and in good faith between the parties, ideally with the support of the Quartet. Such negotiations should lead to consolidation of the Palestine State, coexisting in peace and security with Israel, on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions.