GENEVA REACTIONS TO EVENTS IN GAZA

C O N F I D E N T I A L GENEVA 001127 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2018 TAGS: PHUM PREL UNHRC IS SUBJECT: GENEVA REACTIONS TO EVENTS IN GAZA REF: GENEVA 1126 Classified By: CDA Mark C. Storella for reasons 1,4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: While some Geneva diplomats have begun to discuss the possibility of calling a special session of the UN Human Rights Council on the situation in Gaza, it currently seems likely that there will not be any session before next week at the earliest. Both Palestinian and Egyptian representatives indicate they are awaiting results of the proposed December 31 Cairo Arab League ministerial before determining next steps in Geneva. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Pillay issued a statement December 28 "condemning the rocket attacks by Hamas" and "strongly condemn(ing) Israel's disproportionate use of force." RefTel addresses activities of Geneva-based humanitarian organizations in Gaza. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Palestinian observer mission Charge Zuhairi told CDA that his mission's priority is to press for the re-establishment of a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas and for provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza residents. He has sent letters to the International Commission of the Red Cross (ICRC),the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) asking for emergency humanitarian assistance. He also contacted the president of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to urge their support for a halt in Israeli military operations and for humanitarian access. Zuhairi urged caution and believed that no decision should be taken about possible action in the Human Rights Council before the results of the proposed December 31 Cairo meeting are known. Egyptian DCM Gamaleldin also pointed to the Cairo meeting as the next step, while noting that OIC and Arab Group PermReps are meeting later December 29 to hear a report from the Palestinian representatives here. ¶3. (C) Israeli PermRep Ronny Yaar told us he believed there would be no action by the UN HRC this week, but that there might be a call for a special session next week, depending on the development of events on the ground. He said he planned to respond to High Commissioner Pillay's statement with a public letter in which he would point out that the High Commissioner failed to comment earlier in response to Hamas' rocketing of Israel. Charge noted Secretary Rice's call for humanitarian assistance and urged Israeli cooperation with humanitarian organizations. In a separate conversation, the UK PermRep said he believed a UN HRC special session likely, but not until next week. ¶4. (C) Comment: In addition to the lack of pressure from the Palestinians and the Egyptians for UN HRC action, we note that the UN is closed for the New Year holiday Wednesday, December 31 and Thursday, January 1, and many missions are closed this week. All this contributes to the likelihood that no decision on action by the HRC will be taken until after the New Year. STORELLA