WASHINGTON – Israel's Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor sent an urgent letter to UN Secretary-General Ben Ki-moon and the Security Council alerting them about the increase in the firing of rockets atIsrael from the Gaza Strip in the past month.
The ambassador noted that dozens of rockets and mortars were fired at Israel in the past month. "These attacks are deliberately targeted at Israeli civilians – and continue to represent a serious danger to the population," he wrote.
"Israel holds Hamas fully responsible for all attacks emanating from the area that it controls. In response to these attacks, Israel has exercised and will continue to exercise its right to self-defense, as appropriate, and will take all necessary measures to protect its citizens."
Prosor stressed that "the attacks constitute a clear violation of international law. The persistence of rocket fire from Gaza should serve as a clear reminder that calm in Gaza is far from certain – and that Hamas is far from changing its ways."
He further added: "Israel expects the Security Council, the Secretary-General, and the international community to condemn all of these attacks in very clear terms and send a firm message to Hamas and its patrons, which seek to escalate conflict in our region."
"These attacks also highlight the serious consequences that result from the illegal smuggling of arms into the Gaza Strip – an integral part of Security Council resolution 1860 that does not receive the attention that it deserves from the international community."