An emergency meeting of the United Nations General Assembly began discussions on the situation in Gaza on Thursday after the Israeli delegation protested that the convening of the meeting violated the U.N. charter because the Security Council had already agreed to a resolution on the issue. The Israeli move, which caused an hour delay, was dismissed and United Nations General Assembly President Miguel d'Escoto called for the meeting. The president added that “Prime Minister Olmert's recent statement disavowing the authority of Resolution 1860 [the Security Council resolution] clearly places Israel as a state in contempt of international law and the United Nations.” “It seems to me ironic that Israel, a state that more than any other owes its very existence to a General Assembly resolution, should be so disdainful of United Nations resolutions,” D'Escoto noted. In his opening statement, D'Escoto said he had received “messages from Gaza and from around the world, asking, indeed pleading, for the U.N. to stop the violence, protect civilians and attend to the humanitarian needs. Our business here today is urgent.” “Gaza is ablaze. It has been turned into a burning hell,” D'Escoto said. “The violations of international law inherent in the Gaza assault have been well documented: collective punishment, disproportionate military force. Attacks on civilian targets, including homes, mosques, universities, schools.” Palestinian U.N. observer Riyad Mansour meanwhile called for an independent investigation of Israel's “grave breaches and systematic violations of international law.” ”Since this crisis began, it is without a doubt that a multitude of war crimes have been perpetrated by the occupying power,” he said, while also calling for “measures for protection of the defenseless Palestinian civilian population.”
