{"id":166077,"date":"2018-10-24T13:50:05","date_gmt":"2018-10-24T13:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=166077"},"modified":"2020-07-22T00:48:51","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T04:48:51","slug":"gaza-unliveable-un-special-rapporteur-for-the-situation-of-human-rights-in-the-opt-tells-third-committee-press-release-excerpts","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/gaza-unliveable-un-special-rapporteur-for-the-situation-of-human-rights-in-the-opt-tells-third-committee-press-release-excerpts\/","title":{"rendered":"Gaza “Unliveable”, UN Special Rapporteur for the Situation of Human Rights in the OPT Tells Third Committee – Press Release (Excerpts)"},"content":{"rendered":"

SEVENTY-THIRD SESSION,<\/span>\u00a031ST & 32ND MEETINGS (AM & PM)
\nGA\/SHC\/4242
\n<\/span>24 OCTOBER 2018<\/strong><\/p>\n

fran\u00e7ais<\/a><\/p>\n

\/…<\/p>\n

With an economy in free fall, 70\u00a0per\u00a0cent youth unemployment, widely contaminated drinking water and a collapsed health care system, Gaza has become \u201cunliveable\u201d, the Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian Territories told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) today, insisting that all parties \u2014 particularly Israel \u2014 bring an end to \u201cthis disaster\u201d.<\/p>\n

One of six country-specific mandate holders to present their findings, Michael Lynk recalled that cooperation is at the heart of his work.\u00a0 Yet, Israel continued to block his visits to the occupied territories.\u00a0 He painted a pessimistic state of affairs, noting that 200\u00a0Palestinians have been killed by Israel\u2019s security forces \u2014 40\u00a0of them children \u2014 during peaceful protests each Friday along the Gaza frontier for the past seven months.<\/p>\n

An observer for the State of Palestine, during the interactive dialogue, likewise rejected Israel\u2019s use of deadly force against peaceful demonstrators and called \u201cwilful killing\u201d a grave violation of the Geneva Conventions.<\/p>\n

\/…<\/p>\n

Interactive Dialogues \u2014 Palestinian Territories<\/u><\/p>\n

MICHAEL LYNK, Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories Occupied Since\u00a01967, drew attention to Israel\u2019s persistent non-cooperation with the Special Rapporteur\u2019s mandate.\u00a0 As with his two predecessors, Israel has not granted him entry to visit the country, nor the Occupied Palestinian territory.\u00a0 He recalled that cooperation is a fundamental obligation of the Charter of the United Nations. \u00a0The World Bank described Gaza\u2019s economy in free fall, contracting by 6\u00a0per\u00a0cent during the first quarter of\u00a02018.\u00a0 In fact, the United Nations has stated that Gaza may well be unliveable by\u00a02020:\u00a0 safe drinking water has almost disappeared, the economy is cratering and \u201cthe state of unlive-ability is upon us\u201d, he said, urging the international community to insist that all parties bring an immediate end to this disaster.<\/p>\n

In response to this inflicted misery, Gazans organized the \u201cGreat March of Return\u201d, he recalled.\u00a0 To date, in the context of these demonstrations, more than 200\u00a0Palestinians have been killed, including 40\u00a0children.\u00a0 Almost\u00a023,000 Palestinians have been injured, with half of them requiring hospitalization.\u00a0 In addition, the West Bank village of Khan al-Ahmar is being threatened with complete demolition by Israel, which plans to build new settlements and annex the area.\u00a0 The settlements are a grave breach of international law.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s Knesset has adopted a number of laws that are a flashing green light for more formal annexation steps.\u00a0 For the past 50\u00a0years, \u201cthe international community has been playing checkers while Israel plays chess,\u201d he said, stressing that a deep-rooted problem at the heart of this conflict is the lack of clarity of international law.<\/p>\n

Mr. MANSOUR, observer from the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>, said the humanitarian crisis outlined in the report is the bleakest yet.\u00a0 Describing Israel\u2019s violations, such as the transfer of more settlers to the occupied territories, he said Israel creates a coercive environment to forcibly displace people.\u00a0 The annexation of the territories must end.\u00a0 The deterioration of all aspects of the living situation is the result of 10\u00a0years of immoral blockade, he said, rejecting Israel\u2019s practice of using deadly force against peaceful demonstrators and calling \u201cwilful killing\u201d a grave violation of the Geneva Conventions. He asked about Israel\u2019s increasingly aggressive attempts to turn de facto annexation into de jure annexation.\u00a0 He also condemned Israel\u2019s refusal to cooperate with mandate holders, calling on the Secretary-General and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to ensure that Special Rapporteur\u2019s mandate is not obstructed and that Israel is to brought into compliance.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Turkey<\/u>, noting that the \u201cJewish nation-state law\u201d disregards the rights of Palestinians, asked for guidance on the 13,000\u00a0pending demolition orders in Area\u00a0C.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Venezuela<\/u>, expressing deep concern about the 2\u00a0million people who are isolated and besieged, said Israel\u2019s blockade amounts to collective punishment and should be completely lifted. \u00a0Israel must uphold its international law obligations, he said, appealing for urgent efforts to strengthen Palestinian institutions.<\/p>\n

The representative of the\u00a0Russian Federation<\/u>\u00a0said continued settlement building is draining the patience of Palestinians.\u00a0 Citing recent events at the borders, he said the use of force must be appropriate; any inappropriate such use must be investigated. \u00a0He advocated an end to the occupation which would improve the human rights situation.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Norway<\/u>\u00a0recalling plans for new settlements in the West Bank, as well as the water crisis, called on all parties to act with restraint. \u00a0She asked whether there had been any changes in the use of administrative detention for children.\u00a0 Turning to the torture of Palestinians by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, she asked about any improvements in the human rights situation over the past year.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0South Africa<\/u>\u00a0said the right to housing is linked to the rights to water, food and dignity, which are interdependent and indivisible. \u00a0She asked about the links between humanitarian assistance and the right to work.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Cuba<\/u>\u00a0condemned the continued ignorance of Israel and the United States. \u00a0Rejecting the United States\u2019 unilateral establishment of its embassy in Jerusalem, he called for a fair, peaceful and lasting solution to the conflict \u2011 an impossible goal if justice continues to be denied and impunity prevails.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Nicaragua<\/u>\u00a0asked how the international community can ensure that Israel acts responsibly.<\/p>\n

The representative of the\u00a0Democratic People\u2019s Republic of Korea<\/u>\u00a0condemned the killings of women and children by Israel\u2019s military forces, as well as the illegal action by the United States to move its embassy to Jerusalem and undermine the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Egypt<\/u>, noting that the report provided an accurate picture, asked for recommendations on how to end the \u201ccolonization\u201d and encourage Israel to abide by its legal obligations.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Brazil<\/u>\u00a0expressed concern about the lack of respect for the rights to health and health care service.\u00a0 He expressed support for the freedom of expression and assembly, and the right to peaceful protest.\u00a0 He asked about measures Israel can take to address the right to health without security concerns.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Syria<\/u>\u00a0condemned Israel\u2019s criminal practices, systematic human rights violations and failure to respect hundreds of resolutions adopted by the United Nations for decades.\u00a0 He also condemned States that exert pressure on the United Nations, attempting to force it to change its attitude by withholding funding.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0China<\/u>\u00a0said it will be impossible to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East without resolving the Palestinian question.\u00a0 He opposed all acts of violence, expressing support for the peace process and Palestinians\u2019 just calls for an independent, sovereign State with Jerusalem as capital.<\/p>\n

The representative of the\u00a0European Union<\/u>\u00a0noted that unilateral actions undermine efforts to reach peace.\u00a0 The two-state solution, based on 1967-borders, is the only reliable way to end the conflict, he said, asking about the Special Rapporteur\u2019s priorities.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Senegal<\/u>\u00a0pointing to the lack of decent housing and health care, called for redoubled efforts to improve cooperation with the Special Rapporteur.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Indonesia<\/u>\u00a0expressed deep concern over the denial of access for the Special Rapporteur to the occupied territories, calling on Israel to honour its obligations. \u00a0For over 60\u00a0years, Israel has made the region a showground for tensions and violations, she said, condemning recent excessive use of armed force on civilians. \u00a0Calling the expansion of illegal settlements a threat to peace within the context of the two-State solution, she asked about the United Nations study on the legality of Israel\u2019s occupying territories.<\/p>\n

Also speaking in the dialogue was the representative of Iran.<\/p>\n

Mr. LYNK, to questions about the volume of legislation by the Knesset regarding annexation, replied that the Basic Law amendments have made it more difficult for Israel to achieve parliamentary consent.\u00a0 In addition, membership in the Knesset has increased from\u00a060 to 80\u00a0members, essentially making it impossible to give East\u00a0Jerusalem back to the Palestinian Authority.\u00a0 The report details annexation legislation, notably the regularization bill that \u201cregularizes\u201d settlements.\u00a0 He cited other proposals to quiet disputes around land titles by offering compensation to Palestinians, rather than return the land.\u00a0 All these actions are illegal under the Geneva Conventions.<\/p>\n

Regarding demolition orders in West Bank Area C, he said it is almost impossible for the\u00a0180,000 to 300,000\u00a0people living there to receive a legal permit to renovate or build, noting more broadly that 40\u00a0children died during the Great March of Return.\u00a0 While characterizing the report as \u201coverwhelmingly gloomy\u201d, he pointed to one piece of good news:\u00a0 a Palestinian Bedouin village still stands despite orders to demolish it.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s high court has let it stand, thanks to the activism of human rights defenders and determined European \u201cmissions\u201d that have repeatedly stated their opposition to the demolition.\u00a0 Indeed, with unified action and activism, ominous human rights trends can be reversed, even if not immediately.<\/p>\n

His recommendations are endless, he said.\u00a0 On Gaza, the international community must insist on an end to the 11-year old blockade, as Palestinians cannot trade with the outside world.\u00a0 Other issues concern the prohibition of settlement goods.\u00a0 He called for an end to activities that would deepen the occupation, such as relationships with banks that finance them, as well as for United Nations support for a study into whether Israel is still the legal occupant of the Occupied Territories after 50\u00a0years.<\/p>\n

\/…<\/p>\n

For information media. Not an official record.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

SEVENTY-THIRD SESSION,\u00a031ST & 32ND MEETINGS (AM & PM) GA\/SHC\/4242 24 OCTOBER 2018 fran\u00e7ais \/… With an economy in free fall, 70\u00a0per\u00a0cent youth unemployment, widely contaminated drinking water and a collapsed health care system, Gaza has become \u201cunliveable\u201d, the Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian Territories told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":172,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"template-page.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[2433,1329],"document-source":[1365,1845,2025,1897],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[2005,1741,1584,1805,5033],"entity":[1729],"document-language":[6542,6541],"class_list":["post-166077","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-french-text","document-category-press-release","document-source-general-assembly","document-source-general-assembly-third-committee-social-humanitarian-and-cultural","document-source-special-rapporteur-on-the-situation-of-human-rights-in-the-opt","document-source-united-nations-department-of-public-information-dpi","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-international-conventionstreaties","document-subject-occupation","document-subject-protests","entity-united-nations-system","document-language-english","document-language-french"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/166077","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/172"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/166077\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166077"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=166077"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=166077"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=166077"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=166077"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=166077"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=166077"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=166077"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}