The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba observes with extreme concern and profound indignation the atrocities committed since June 28 by the government of Israel in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, in particular the November 7 massacre in the town of Beit Hanoun in the north of that occupied Palestinian territory. In the attack, 18 civilians were brutally murdered, among them 8 children.

As a result of the cruel offensive of the Israeli army against the defenseless Palestinian population in recent weeks, more than 200 civilians have been killed, among them 60 children, and almost 1,000 have been wounded. This demonstrates the criminal nature of the aggressor, which enjoys the political, economic and military support of the United States.

Cuba joins the voices around the world calling on the UN Security Council to condemn this criminal act and demands Israel put an end to such actions, which violate all the norms of International Law and Humanitarian International Law. Cuba also calls for an end to the permanent veto by the United States at the UN Security Council that grants Israel impunity.

The only path to a fair and lasting peace in the region is by respecting the undeniable right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent and sovereign state of its own, with its capital in East Jerusalem; allowing the return of the refugees; and unconditionally handing back all Arab territories that were occupied in June 1967.

At this crucial hour, Cuba reaffirms its full solidarity with the heroic Palestinian people, victims of the continuous and immoral aggression of the Tel Aviv régime, whose acts deeply hurt humanity's conscience.

Havana, November 10, 2006.