Resolution 50/22
(April 25, 1996)
C
The Israeli military attacks against Lebanon and their
consequences
The General Assembly,
Having heard the statement of the President of the Lebanese Republic
before the plenary on 23 April 1996,1/
Taking note of the letters from the Alternate Permanent
Representative of Colombia to the United Nations in his capacity as
Chairman of the Coordinating Bureau of the Movement of Non-Aligned
Countries 2/ and from the Permanent Representative of Guinea to the
United Nations in her capacity as Chairperson of the Islamic Group and on
behalf of the States Members of the United Nations that are members of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference,3/
Reaffirming the relevant Security Council resolutions on the
situation in Lebanon, in particular resolution 425 (1978) of 19 March 1978,
Reaffirming also Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) of 22
November 1967 and 338 (1973) of 22 October 1973, and in particular the
principles of withdrawal from the occupied Arab territories and the right
of all States in the region to live in peace and security within
internationally recognized boundaries,
Bearing in mind the debate that took place at its 113th to 117th
meetings, on 23, 24 and 25 April 1996, on the situation in the Middle East,4/
Gravely concerned at the consequences that the ongoing fighting
could have for the peace and security of the region and for the furtherance
of the peace process in the Middle East, and affirming its full support for
that process and for the need to achieve real progress, especially on the
Lebanese and Syrian track,
Gravely concerned also at all attacks on civilian targets, including
residential areas, and at the loss of life and suffering among civilians,
Stressing the need for all concerned to respect fully the rules of
international humanitarian law with regard to the protection of civilians,
in particular the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian
Persons in Time of War of 12 August 1949,5/
Gravely concerned at actions that seriously threaten the safety of
the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and impede the implementation
of its mandate, in particular the incident that occurred on 18 April 1996
in which shelling resulted in heavy loss of life among civilians at a site
of the Interim Force,
Taking into consideration the statement of the International
Committee of the Red Cross of 19 April 1996, in which it firmly condemned
the shelling of civilians who had taken refuge in an Interim Force base in
the village of Qana,
Expressing concern at the bombardment of the archaeological and
cultural sites and monuments in the city of Tyre, which are internationally
protected, in accordance with international law and the 1954 Hague
Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed
Conflict,6/ and which are considered by the United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to be the heritage of all
mankind,
1. Calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities;
2. Supports the ongoing diplomatic efforts to this end;
3. Condemns the Israeli military attacks against the civilian
population in Lebanon, especially against the United Nations base at Qana,
which violate the rules of international humanitarian law pertaining to the
protection of civilians, and expresses its grave concern and sorrow over
the loss of lives and serious injuries to innocent men, women and children;
4. Calls upon Israel immediately to cease its military action
against the territorial integrity of Lebanon and to withdraw forthwith its
forces from all Lebanese territory, in conformity with Security Council
resolution 425 (1978);
5. Calls for strict respect for the territorial integrity,
sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon within its
internationally recognized boundaries;
6. Calls upon all concerned to respect the safety and security of
civilians in conformity with the rules of international humanitarian law;
7. Considers that Lebanon is entitled to appropriate redress for the
destruction it has suffered and that Israel is responsible for such
compensation;
8. Requests the Secretary-General to dispatch a special technical
mission to the area to study and prepare, within one month's time, in
cooperation with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, a report on
the human and material losses and damage resulting from the recent and
ongoing hostilities;
9. Calls upon Member States to offer humanitarian assistance to
alleviate the suffering of the population and to assist the Government of
Lebanon in the reconstruction of the country, and requests the
Secretary-General to ensure that the United Nations and its agencies play
their part in meeting the humanitarian needs of the civilian population;
10. Also requests the Secretary-General to report to the General
Assembly on the progress made in the implementation of the present
resolution.
117th plenary meeting
25 April 1996
Notes
1/ See A/50/PV.113.
2/ A/50/940.
3/ A/50/941.
4/ See A/50/PV.113-117.
5/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973.
6/ Ibid., vol. 249, No. 3511.
Sources: The United Nations |