Current Escalation in the Occupied West Bank – 03 July 2023 Daily Press Briefing by Spokesman for Secretary-General – (Excerpts)

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 3 JULY 2023

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MIDDLE EAST
Tor Wennesland, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, warned today that the current escalation in the occupied West Bank is very dangerous and follows months of mounting tensions. He said that eight Palestinians have been killed and several others wounded by Israeli Security Forces fire during an Israeli military operation that began early this morning.

He added that the operation comes after months of growing tension that once again reminds us of the extremely volatile and unpredictable situation across the occupied West Bank.  All must ensure that the civilian population is protected, he said.

From the outset, Mr. Wennesland has been in direct contact with all relevant parties to urgently de-escalate the situation and ensure humanitarian access and delivery of necessary medical and other supplies into Jenin.

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**Questions and Answers

Question:  So, the situation in Jenin, the Secretary-General and his representative, Mr. Wennesland, have been calling for de-escalation for some considerable time.  And you’ve had the exact opposite.  You’ve had a major escalation and incursion by Israel.  Does the Secretary-General condemn that action?

Deputy Spokesman: At this point, we’re evaluating the situation on the ground.  The Secretary-General has spoken out about the violence in Jenin and in the West Bank in a statement we put out last week, I believe, and I would just refer you to the sentiments of that statement, which are reflected again today.  It’s very clear that he said that there’s a need to avoid further escalation and what’s happening today demonstrates that… exactly what his point was.

Question:  And we’ve had I think 15 attacks by drones from the air.  Is this an acceptable use of force from Israel?

Deputy Spokesman: We’ve always said that it is not acceptable for there to be armed attacks in areas of high population density, and that’s the case.  All parties need to abide by international humanitarian law.  Abdelhamid?

Question:  Yeah.  A follow-up, Farhan.  A hospital was attacked this morning.  A residential building, the third floor completely was razed to the ground.  And all the roads were completely dug by Israeli bulldozers.  And thousands of people are trapped, and they are preventing the ambulances to reach out to the wounded, which they are numbering 50 and maybe more; 10 of them are in critical conditions.  And the only language we hear is de-escalation.  Is this a flagrant case of aggression and excessive use of force or not?

Deputy Spokesman: We certainly want all parties to avoid any excessive use of force, and that includes calling on them to avoid any attacks on hospitals, such as what you’ve mentioned, and on civilian infrastructure.  So, we will continue to do that.  Edie?

Question:  Thank you, Farhan.  I was also going to ask about drone attacks in residential areas.  Is this something that the Secretary-General is prepared to condemn?

Deputy Spokesman: What I can say is we want all attacks that hit residential areas, highly populated areas of any sort to stop.

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Question:  Sorry, let me get back to Jenin.  Today, Mr. Tor Wennesland said on Twitter that he had been in direct contacts with all relevant parties to urgently de-escalate the situation.  Do you have the information who Mr. Wennesland has been talked to?

Deputy Spokesman: He has regular discussions with counterparts on the various sides, including with the Israeli Government and their body, COGAT, that deals with the occupied territories.

Question:  For this particular operation, for today, has he talked to them?

Deputy Spokesman:  He continues to be in touch with a range of parties.  Yes.

Question:  The Israeli Government believe that terrorist groups use Jenin as a terrorist hub.  That’s why they started this operation.  That’s the reason the Israeli Government gave to the media outlets.  When you see those drone attacks on the residential area, do you believe it’s a counter-terrorism operation?

Deputy Spokesman: Well, again, like I’ve pointed out, attacks on heavily populated areas are violations of international humanitarian law.  They must be avoided.

Question:  And today, the White House said:  “We have seen the reports and are monitoring the situation closely.  We support Israel’s security and right to defend its people against Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terrorist groups.”  Just want to know, first, are there any responses from the UN on this comment?

Deputy Spokesman: We’ve pointed out in the past that although Israel is able to carry out security operations, it has to do so in such a way that avoids civilian casualties and destruction of civilian infrastructure.

Question:  Now, then do Palestinians have the right to defend?

Deputy Spokesman: All people have rights and they have certainly the rights to protect themselves.  What we want is to make sure that all parties de-escalate the situation on the ground.  Yes, Evelyn?

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Question:  Thank you again.  Tomorrow, the US celebrates its independence.  They’re celebrating the defeat of colonialist and foreign domination.  Every country in the world celebrates that.  Except one people, the Palestinians.  Their struggle against foreign domination, foreign occupation is labelled as terrorism.  Is there more double standard than this?

Deputy Spokesman:  I see that more as an editorial comment than as a question.  And beyond that, Abdelhamid, it’s simply not the case that they’re the only people in the world living under occupation.

Question:  My question now.  You have been trying to avoid to use the word “condemn” — with excessive force, with drones, with attacking hospitals, but Tor Wennesland did not hesitate one second when Palestinian attacked settlers to use the word “strongly condemn”.  Is there fairness in that?

Deputy Spokesman:  A week and a half ago, we came out with a statement that condemned the violence that occurred both from Palestinian terrorist groups and from settlers.  Look back at the statement that we came out with.

Question:  So, you call them terrorists also?

Deputy Spokesman: Look back at the statement we came out with a week and a half ago.

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For information media. Not an official record.