UN Human Rights in Occupied Palestinian Territory: OHCHR calls for the end of militarized operations in Jenin

31 August 2024

The UN Human Rights Office condemns the Israeli security forces (ISF) use of unlawful force during militarized operations in the occupied West Bank and calls for an immediate end to the current attack on Jenin refugee camp. The ongoing ISF operation in Jenin refugee camp and adjacent parts of the city has led apparently to unlawful killings, insecurity for Palestinian residents and enormous destruction of the camp, home to about 11,000 Palestinians.

At the time of issuing this statement, the ISF had killed 12 Palestinians in Jenin and its surrounding areas, including five who were killed in airstrikes and seven due to being shot with live ammunition. This includes an 83-year-old man, Tawfiq Ahmad Younis Qandil, was reportedly killed on the night of 30 August. According to his family, he had gone out of his house in the eastern neighborhood of Jenin to get groceries, and was riddled with bullets, allegedly by Israeli snipers, the moment he stepped outside. His family reported that they were prevented from reaching him for two hours as Israeli forces fired on anything moving in the area.

The army has also bulldozed roads and destroyed public infrastructure on a massive scale, as well as private homes and a mosque in the eastern neighbourhood of the city and Jenin camp. Since the start of the operation on 28 August, the ISF has deployed a large number of armoured personnel carriers, bulldozers and snipers, supported by drones and aircrafts, and imposed a curfew in the refugee camp and adjacent parts of the city, which have also been cut off from electricity and water supplies. Residents of the camp, paramedics and UN workers report that many families are stuck in their homes without water and food, including for babies and infants.

The Palestinian Red Cresent Society (PRCS) reported that since the start of the operation they have managed to evacuate 20 people injured by live ammunition, including an18-month-old baby, in addition to dozens of injured. PRCS also reported that ISF shot at their ambulances at least four times, and that in one of the incidents on 30 August, a doctor and a driver were injured.

The UN Human Rights Office has also received information that Israeli soldiers are rounding up dozens of young Palestinians from their homes and interrogating them, as well as subjecting them to various forms of mistreatment, including beatings and forcing them to remain in the open air for long hours without food or water. Many of those taken into custody have been reportedly taken to undisclosed locations.

Separately, in the morning of 31 August, two Palestinian men were reportedly shot and killed by Israeli forces in two separate alleged attempted car bombing in the southern West Bank. According to Israeli media, three Israeli officers were injured, two of them by Israeli friendly fire.

ISF’s use of military weapons and tactics are contributing to an escalation of violence in the Occupied West Bank.

The International Court of Justice recently held that Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful and called for it to end this unlawful presence as rapidly as possible. In the meantime, Israel is bound by the laws of occupation, which require it to take steps to ensure the security of the Palestinian population in the OPT while complying with the international human rights standards applicable to law enforcement. The use of military weapons and tactics during law enforcement give rise to grave concerns of a systematic disregard for the rights of the Palestinian population and contribute to an escalation in violence and insecurity. The only way to ensure security for Palestinians and Israelis is to end the occupation.