UN-backed meeting on protection of Palestinian civilians called off

Geneva [Switzerland], March 7: A conference in Geneva on the protection of civilians in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories has been cancelled because too few of the 196 countries invited had accepted the invitation, diplomats said on Thursday.
The UN General Assembly had asked Switzerland to convene an international gathering to reaffirm the Geneva Conventions - the basis of international humanitarian law - out of concern for the Palestinians.
But when no ministers from countries that are signatories to the conventions announced their participation, Friday's meeting at the UN headquarters in Geneva was called off.
In view of the situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, a declaration was planned to reaffirm the Fourth Geneva Convention, which pertains to the protection of civilians in areas of armed conflict and occupied territories. Israel had criticized the planned conference, saying it was "part of the legal warfare" against the country, according to the embassy in Geneva. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune