Switzerland Hosts Conference On The Fate Of Civilians In Israel's Population Area

North Gaza/DOKmen UNICEF/Mohammed Nateel/

JAKARTA - Switzerland invited 196 member states of the Geneva Convention to participate in next week's conference on the situation of civilians living in Israeli occupied territories.

The ceasefire remains in effect in Gaza after a 15-month conflict between Israel and Gaza that has caused destruction and more than 45,000 Palestinians killed.

Israel has cleaned tens of thousands of people from camps in the West Bank in recent weeks raising concerns about possible future annexations.

Israeli Defense Minister Katz ordered his troops to be 'staying behind for a long time', saying the camps had been cleared for the coming year and residents would not be allowed to return.

Following an invitation from UNGA (UN General Assembly), I confirm that the conference of the parties tied to the Fourth Geneva Convention will be held in Geneva on March 7, "said Swiss Foreign Ministry spokesman Nicolas Bideau in an email in response to a Reuters question reported Saturday, March 1.

The Fourth Geneva Convention, part of a series of international treaties agreed in 1949 after the Second World War, defines humanitarian protection for civilians living in areas of armed conflict or occupation.

The UN General Assembly asked Switzerland to hold the meeting last September when the Gaza war was still raging. Similar meetings were held in 1999, 2001 and 2014.