The European Union (EU) on Sunday called for enabling the Palestinian consensus government to take its role in the Gaza Strip which has been ruled by the Islamic Hamas movement since 2007. “We have serious doubts as to whether capital trials in Gaza meet these standards”.
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“Death sentences may only be carried out in extremely limited circumstances, and pursuant to a trial and appeals that scrupulously follow fair trial standards”.
Israel restricts the entry of goods into Gaza out of fears they will be used to make weapons or build tunnels that can be used for attacks. Over 11,100 others – including 3,374 children, 2,088 women and 410 elderly people – were also wounded in the war.
Turning to the West Bank, “it is important to strengthen the capacity, the capability and the authority of the Palestinian security forces in the areas of their responsibility” as “continued security coordination between both sides has played and continues to play a key part in reducing violence”.
The army “holds Hamas accountable for all attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip”, it said.
There must be an end to Gaza’s chronic water and energy crisis, said Mladenov as he explained that most people in Gaza only have eight to 12 hours of electricity.
A Salafi group in Gaza took responsibility for the rocket, and said it was in retaliation for a Hamas wave of arrests of its members.
Palestinian militants in Gaza and Israel have fought three wars since 2008.
“Recent events clearly demonstrate that the spectre of violence looms ominously over the territory”.
“The victims’ families have the right to demand that the punishments be implemented”, he said.
Lastly, Mladenov welcomed the recent statement by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi expressing Egypt’s readiness to mediate a reconciliation between rival Palestinian factions so as to pave the way toward a lasting peace agreement with Israel.
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Ayrault said in a separate statement that the June 3 conference would help identify “ways to help Israel and the Palestinians return to the path to peace”.
