UNITED NATIONS, January 22 (PL).— The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries today condemned before the Security Council Israeli attacks on the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip, and the latest one, that left 19 dead and 50 wounded.

Cuban Ambassador Isidoro Malmierca, president of the NAM Coordination Bureau, spoke yesterday at an emergency meeting requested by the group, along with the League of Arab States and the Organization of the Islamic Conference.

The situation has provoked great concern within the NAM given that the illegal Israeli actions have caused the deaths of more than 150 Palestinian civilians, including women and children during the last six weeks, the diplomat reiterated.

Israel’s violent military escalation constitutes a serious violation of international law, including international humanitarian law and human rights agreements, as well as exacerbating the cycle of violence, Malmierca stated.

The ambassador emphasized that this aggression places international peace and security at risk, as well as the fragile peace process within the region.

In his comments to that UN agency, the president of the NAM Coordination Bureau indicated that actions of this nature aggravate the already deplorable human conditions existing in the Gaza Strip.

The civilian population continues to be subjected to collective punishment under a cruel occupation, said Malmierca.

He referred to the intensification of the siege of the occupied Palestinian territories with the hermetic sealing of all border crossings, to the point of preventing food deliveries to the population from January 18.

He added that Israel is still reducing fuel supplies to Gaza, and totally cut off deliveries to the main generating station on Sunday, January 20.

Malmierca called on the Security Council to demand that Israel lift the siege and open border crossings to permit access, at least, of food and medical supplies.

Urgent measures should be taken to assure the delivery of essential provisions, as well as the resumption of fuel deliveries to the Gaza Strip, he indicated.

The Non-Aligned Movement, he concluded, demands that the international community, and the Security Council in particular, fulfill their responsibilities and demand that Israel immediately end its violations and comply with its international obligations.

Translated by Granma International  Granma 23-01-2008