Amid increasing bloodshed and volatility in Gaza and Israel, UN
Human Rights High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet on Saturday
appealed for a de-escalation in tensions and urged all sides to
respect international law.
“Over the past 10 days, the situation in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory and Israel has deteriorated at an alarming rate,” she
said in a statement.
"The situation in Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem,
triggered by threats of forced evictions of Palestinian families;
the heavy presence of Israeli Security Forces and violence around
the al Aqsa mosque during Ramadan; the severe escalation of
attacks from and on Gaza; and the shocking incitement to racial
hatred and violence in Israel have all led to vicious attacks and
mounting casualties in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in
Israel.”
Ms Bachelet added that “rather than seeking to calm tensions,
inflammatory rhetoric from leaders on all sides appears to be
seeking to excite tensions rather than to calm them.”
Security Council meets on Sunday
Meanwhile, casualties continue to mount in exchanges between the
Israeli Defense Forces and those from the militant group Hamas,
which controls Gaza. On Saturday, UNICEF Palestine reported on
Twitter that eight children were killed overnight in Gaza, and
that so far 40 children there, and two in Israel, have lost their
lives.
The UN Security Council will meet
on Sunday morning to debate the crisis. Secretary-General António
Guterres and the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East
Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, will address ambassadors.
Ms Bachelet warned that the firing of large numbers of
indiscriminate rockets by Palestinian armed groups into Israel,
including densely populated areas, amounts to war crimes.
There are also concerns that some attacks by the Israeli Defence
Forces in Gaza “targeted civilian objects that, under
international humanitarian law, do not meet the requirements to
be considered as military objectives.”
Her statement said failure to adhere to the principles of
distinction, proportionality and precaution in conducting
military operations “amounts to a serious violation of
international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes.”
“I urge both sides to ensure strict respect for their obligations
under international law. Israel, as the occupying power, also has
a duty to ensure unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance to
the Gaza strip,” the UN rights chief said. “Those found to be
responsible for violations must be held to account.”
Mob violence, inflammatory language
Ms Bachelet also called on the Israeli Government to take action
against the “disturbing outbreak of violence” between ultra-right
wing groups, including Israeli settlers, and Palestinian citizens
of Israel, in several cities of the country.
She expressed particular concern over “the apparently highly
organized nature of some attacks as well as inflammatory language
that may amount to incitement to racial and religious hatred and
violence.”
Reports also indicate that in some cases, organized convoys
arrived from Israeli settlements in the West Bank to join local
groups. Violent attacks have also been perpetrated by some
Palestinian citizens of Israel.
“I am particularly concerned at reports that Israeli police
failed to intervene where Palestinian citizens of Israel were
being violently attacked, and that social media is being used by
ultra-right wing groups to rally people to bring ‘weapons,
knives, clubs, knuckledusters’ to use against Palestinian
citizens of Israel,” Ms Bachelet said.
She reminded the Israeli authorities of their duty to protect all
residents and citizens, and urged political leaders to refrain
from actions that will inflame tensions and instead work to
prevent and address incitement to hatred and violence.
Investigate all violations
The High Commissioner was also deeply disturbed by the reported
use of live ammunition by Israeli Security Forces during protests
and clashes in the West Bank, resulting in the death of 10
Palestinians on Friday alone.
Ms Bachelet called for independent, transparent and thorough
investigations into all allegations of violations of
international human rights law and international humanitarian
law.
“We know from recent history how such a grave situation can
advance with utterly catastrophic consequences for thousands of
civilians,” she said.
“There can be no winner, no sustainable peace resulting from the
furtherance of the cycle of violence. I urge all sides – and
States with influence – to take immediate measures to ensure
respect for international law, ease tensions, and work to resolve
– rather than fan – the conflict.”
