UNRWA Statement Delivered at the 30th Special Session of the Human Rights Council

Mr. President,

UNRWA is deeply alarmed and affected by the recent escalation of violence and hostilities in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the devastating human and physical toll it is taking once again on civilians, including Palestine refugees. Women and children have sadly been disproportionally affected. UNRWA calls for the protection of civilians and reiterates what the Secretary-General has stated: There is no justification for the abdication by the parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law¹.

Mr. President, Gaza Strip

Allow me to pay tribute to all UNRWA staff members for their courage and strength to deliver a truly humanitarian response as buildings fall around them, and as the global pandemic hangs as a shadow over Gaza, and to extend sincere condolences on behalf of all UNRWA colleagues to the families who have lost loved ones, including children.

In Gaza, 11 long days caused immense destruction on the ground, to lives, and civilian infrastructure. Nearly 100,000 people were displaced from their homes, including in excess of 71,200 IDPs who sought protection in 59 UNRWA schools across Gaza. Over 240 people died; 66 of them were children, and 19 of them went to UNRWA schools. More than 8,000 people are now homeless. UNRWA offices were not spared either². In Israel 12 people died in rocket attacks, including 2 children. All loss of innocent civilians’ lives is unacceptable. There was no safe place for civilians on either side from the hostilities and its indiscriminate effects.

After 14 years of the blockade and repeated cycles of hostilities, residents of Gaza continue to ask themselves why, when a global pandemic has made clear the human effects of sustained restrictions on movement and goods, they continue to suffer under constraints that punish the population of Gaza, without hope for a dignified future.

West Bank, including East Jerusalem

During the escalation in hostilities in Gaza, little attention was paid to the heavy violence that occurred in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. During May, more live ammunition was used by the Israeli Security Forces on Palestinians in demonstrations than in the first four

months of the year, leading to serious concerns from a human rights perspective. Palestine refugees were among the injured and killed.

UNRWA is sensitive to the difficult security situation, including demonstrations where Molotov cocktails and large rocks were thrown at Israeli Security Forces. However, as an occupying power, Israel must abide by international law, including the principles of necessity and proportionality, and exercise maximum restraint. Where violations are alleged to have occurred, those responsible must be held to account.

UNRWA also remains very concerned about the vulnerability of Palestine refugees to violence and incitement by, in particular, Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, including reports of use of live ammunition. Discrimination and stereotypes against Palestinians, including Palestine refugees, are unacceptable, and may amount to human rights violations. The Agency reiterates the vulnerability of the Sheikh Jarrah community in East Jerusalem, including the eight families facing imminent eviction. Israeli Security Forces have set up a checkpoint severely restricting Palestinian exit and entry to the neighbourhood. Practices that fuel perceptions of inequality and differential treatment are ingredients for a drastic escalation of tensions, which can lead to more losses and casualties on both sides.

The United Nations has called upon the Government of Israel to halt these evictions since it violates international law and risks forced transfer.³ UNRWA appeals to the international community and Member States to pay attention to the situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the use of live ammunition, and incitement against Palestinian and take immediate action with the Government of Israel to prevent the Sheikh Jarrah and other pending evictions and protect the equal rights of Palestinians, including Palestine refugees.

Mr. President,

UNRWA will continue its activities, including addressing the mental health crisis stemming from these events, and much needed early recovery efforts, and to this end has launched a Flash Appeal for Gaza and the West Bank. The Agency calls on the donor and state community to ensure that the activities of UNRWA and our partners are properly funded, during the current phase of acute need, and for the longer-term core services that contribute to a sense of normality to Palestine refugees, such as health, education and social services.

In conclusion,

For Palestine refugees and their families throughout the occupied Palestinian territory, the ceasefire is welcomed but it should not create a false sense that we have returned to normality. Innovative political solutions are required to comprehensively address the root causes of the conflict. While fully respecting the humanitarian nature of UNRWA’s mandate, the Agency strongly supports the call of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on all sides

– and States – to take immediate measures to ensure respect for international law, including international human rights law, ease tensions and work to resolve the conflict. The time is now to take real and substantive action.

Thank you.

1 Secretary-General’s Remarks to the General Assembly Meeting on the Situation in the Middle East and Palestine [as delivered], 20 May 2021, available at: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2021-05-20/secretary-general’s-remarks-the-general-assembly- meeting-the-situation-the-middle-east-and-palestine-delivered

2 UNRWA Press Release, “UNRWA installations in Gaza hit during hostilities”, 13 May 2021, available at: /newsroom/official-statements/unrwa-installations-gaza-hit-during-hostilities

³ UN News, “Stop evictions in East Jerusalem neighbourhood immediately, UN rights office urges Israel », 7 May 2021, available at: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/05/1091492.