From arbitrary detentions and deliberate deprivation, to attacks
against civilians and forced displacements, the UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, expressed “acute concerns”
on Monday over the current human rights situation in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory.
Briefing the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable
Rights of the Palestinian People, Zeid – who also heads the UN
human rights office, OHCHR – expressed concern
over the dramatic escalation of violence along the border between
the Gaza Strip and Israel during the past few months, in which
dozens of Palestinian civilians were killed.
“I remind all parties that any disproportionate or indiscriminate
use of weapons which lead to the death and injury of civilians is
prohibited by international humanitarian law”, said High
Commissioner Zeid, warning that this escalation could potentially
threaten peace across a far broader region.
Though the United Nations and the Government of Egypt have made
efforts to maintain a ceasefire between Israel and the militant
group Hamas which controls Gaza, the situation remains extremely
fragile, he said. “I urge the parties and all those with
influence to do their utmost to avoid another round of violence
and misery.”
In his briefing, the Human Rights chief highlighted the dire
conditions that Palestinians living in Gaza continue to endure.
He regretted that these regular waves of violence “compound the
already extreme humanitarian crisis”, which he denounced as
“entirely man-made and entirely preventable”, including
“skyrocketing unemployment and poverty, crumbling infrastructure,
record food-dependency and a bleak political horizon”.
The grave funding crisis currently faced by the UN Relief and
Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) – which plays a
crucial role in providing protection, education and health
services as well as employment to the refugee populations – is
likely to further aggravate the situation, he said.
Regarding the recent “shocking killings” along
the Gaza fence during the ‘Great March of Return’
demonstrations, he noted that the Human Rights Council resolved
in May, to dispatch an independent, international Commission of
Inquiry on the matter.
“It is essential that the authorities cooperate with the future
Commission to advance accountability for these killings, as well
as all alleged violations and abuses of international
humanitarian law and international human rights law”, Zeid said,
adding that “although Israel has put in place a number of
accountability mechanisms, there are serious concerns that these
are not in compliance with the international standards of
independence, impartiality, and effectiveness.”
He said that it would also be “vital to address the root causes
of the recent demonstrations”, namely the “grossly inadequate
living conditions” in Gaza.
In his statement, Zeid mentioned the adoption in July by
Israel of the Nation-State Basic Law, stating that
it "anchors inherent discrimination against non-Jewish
communities, most notably the Arab citizens of Israel and
residents of occupied East Jerusalem" and that it "could
also further inflame tensions".
The UN Human Rights High Commissioner went on to highlight that
the planning and construction of Israeli settlements continues
“unabated” across the occupied West Bank, including East
Jerusalem. “Since the beginning of 2018, settler attacks on
Palestinians have spiked to the highest monthly average of the
past three years,” he added.
As for demolitions and forced displacement of Palestinian
families in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, despite
having slowed down after peaking in 2017, they continue to take
place monthly, said Zeid, with 366 structures demolished in the
West Bank alone – including 11 school structures – in the past
year.
Other violations in breach of international law cited by the High
Commissioner include increasing restrictions on movement; daily
intimidation by soldiers at checkpoints; settler violence and
harassment; forced transfer, and the continued existence of the
separation wall.
The Human Rights chief highlighted also the plight of hundreds of
Palestinian children detained by Israel, including some without
charge, under the so-called "administrative detention" system. An
estimated 440 Palestinians are being held currently.
“These assaults on fundamental rights dismantle trust in
institutions; strip away the social structures which enable
peaceful resolution of disputes; and create a tinderbox in which
any flash of conflict may ignite severe and unpredictable
consequences,” he concluded.
On Monday, the UN Special
Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the
Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the
Occupied Territories also denounced the deterioriating human
rights situation for Palestinians, following their
annual mission to Jordan.
