By NNN-KUNA
Geneva : The United Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 John Dugard has said that collective punishment and the terrorization of an occupied people are unlawful.
He said in a statement issued here Monday that the failure to distinguish between civilian and military targets violates one of the most fundamental rules of humanitarian law.
“It is imperative that every effort be made to bring the violence to an end. This can be done only by negotiation and mediation. The United Nations is the obvious body to initiate such talks between Hamas in Gaza, the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah,” he stressed.
Dugard added that at present the UN is restrained by the United States, the European Union and Israel from speaking to Hamas and this has left it powerless to fulfil its principal duty of maintaining international peace.
“The Secretary-General of the United Nations must find the courage to overcome this obstacle and initiate meaningful talks between all parties. Without this the cycle of violence is doomed to continue,” he added.