4 March 2022<\/p>\n
High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet today noted a significant increase in violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory during an interactive dialogue with the Human Rights Council on her report<\/a> on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice.<\/p>\n The High Commissioner said that during the reporting period, between 1 November 2020 and 31 October 2021, the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory had further deteriorated. \u00a0This period was marked by a significant increase in violence, including the largest escalation of hostilities between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza since 2014. \u00a0Israeli forces\u00a0killed 315 Palestinians and injured 17,597 Palestinians \u2013 an almost five-fold increase in comparison to the previous reporting period.\u00a0 Fourteen Israelis were killed and 824 others were injured by Palestinians.<\/p>\n Ms. Bachelet said her Office had documented several\u00a0incidents\u00a0in which Israeli attacks may have violated international humanitarian law principles of distinction, proportionality and feasible precautions.\u00a0\u00a0However, almost 10 months later, her Office was not aware of any criminal investigation of these incidents.\u00a0\u00a0She also noted pervasive\u00a0impunity afforded to members of the Israeli Security Forces for incidents of possible excessive use of force outside the context of hostilities.\u00a0\u00a0Regarding the\u00a0accountability of Palestinian authorities, she noted that the reporting period was marked by increased violence by Palestinian Security Forces, which may amount to\u00a0violations of the right to life and to physical integrity.<\/p>\n Israel was not present in the room to take the floor as a country concerned.<\/p>\n State of Palestine, speaking as a country concerned, said the report had a lack of balance, as Israel was the occupying power, and Palestine was the victim of a colonialist occupation.\u00a0 The violence had caused the loss of hundreds of lives.\u00a0 These were flagrant violations of international law, and there was also medical negligence in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic.\u00a0 There had been the demolition and destruction of houses in East Jerusalem, and barbaric aggressions by settlers against Palestinians, with the settlers taking public and private property.<\/p>\n In the debate, speakers\u00a0condemned the\u00a0intensification of settlers\u2019 violence, and the blatant and brutal\u00a0aggression and disproportionate use of force that had led to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians and urged the Council to put an end to impunity. \u00a0A timely investigation on all parties needed to be carried out and the importance of carrying multilateral negotiations was highlighted as the Quartet was the only current recognised mediator sanctioned by a Security Council resolution. \u00a0The international community was urged to\u00a0hold Israel accountable, end the culture of impunity, and cooperate with the commission of inquiry. \u00a0The attacks by Hamas and other terrorist organizations within Israel were condemned by some speakers, saying that both sides needed to respect human rights. One speaker complained about Navi Pillay, head of the investigating body, as elements displayed showed that she had an anti-Israeli bias.<\/p>\n In her concluding remarks, Ms. Bachelet said that it had been 18 months since Israel ceased to renew visas for staff of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights working in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, gravely impacting their work.\u00a0\u00a0On the future updating of the database, the High Commissioner had previously flagged the issue of resource requirements, and that it was not possible for the Office to absorb this into the future endlessly.\u00a0\u00a0Any further work in this area could only be discharged consistent with the budgetary process.<\/p>\n Speaking in the general debate were the European Union, Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation), Morocco (on behalf of the Group of Arab\u00a0States), Egypt, Qatar, UN Women, Mauritania, France, Luxembourg, Libya,\u00a0Venezuela, Malaysia, Iraq, Cuba, China, Namibia, Saudi\u00a0Arabia, Indonesia, Russian Federation, Kuwait, Algeria, Yemen, Chile, Lebanon,\u00a0Ireland, Bangladesh, Tunisia, Turkey, Democratic People\u2019s Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Iran, Jordan, Sri Lanka, Bolivia, Syria and Morocco.<\/p>\n Also speaking were the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Dialogue and\u00a0Democracy, United Nations Watch, Al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights, Ingenieurs\u00a0du Monde, Institute for NGO Research, International Association of Jewish Lawyers\u00a0and Jurists, International Council Supporting Fair Trial and Human Rights, Khiam\u00a0Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture, International Bar Association,\u00a0International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination,\u00a0and the Independent Commission for the Human Rights of Palestine.<\/p>\n The webcast of the Human Rights Council meetings can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0 All meeting summaries can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0 Documents and reports related to the Human Rights Council\u2019s forty-ninth regular session can be found\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n This afternoon, the Council will hold an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker.\u00a0 It will then consider the report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n Documentation<\/strong><\/p>\n The Council has before it (A\/HRC\/49\/25), the\u00a0report<\/a>\u00a0of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the\u00a0human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Presentation of the Report<\/strong><\/p>\n MICHELLE BACHELET,\u00a0United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights,\u00a0presenting her report on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice, said that during the reporting period, between 1 November 2020 and 31 October 2021, the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory had further deteriorated. \u00a0This period was marked by a significant increase in violence, including the largest escalation of hostilities between Israel and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza since 2014. \u00a0Israeli forces\u00a0killed 315 Palestinians and injured 17,597 Palestinians \u2013 an almost five-fold increase in comparison to the previous reporting period.\u00a0 Fourteen Israelis were killed and 824 others were injured by Palestinians.\u00a0 The High Commissioner said her\u00a0Office had documented several\u00a0incidents\u00a0in which Israeli attacks may have violated international humanitarian law principles of distinction, proportionality and feasible precautions.\u00a0\u00a0However, almost 10 months later, her Office was not aware of any criminal investigation of these incidents.<\/p>\n In relation to previous outbreaks of hostilities, serious concerns persisted over the lack of accountability for actual or potential violations of international humanitarian law, including alleged war crimes perpetrated by all\u00a0<\/a>parties to the conflict. \u00a0The High Commissioner also mentioned\u00a0pervasive\u00a0impunity afforded to members of the Israeli Security Forces for incidents of possible excessive use of force outside the context of hostilities.\u00a0\u00a0Similarly, there was no notable progress in investigations into allegations of ill-treatment and torture of Palestinians in Israeli detention facilities. On 19 October 2021, the Israeli Minister of Defence had designated six Palestinian human rights and humanitarian organizations as \u201cterrorist organizations\u201d under Israel\u2019s Counter-Terrorism Law, and the Israeli military commander in the West Bank had declared these and one other organization \u2018unlawful\u2019. \u00a0These designation decisions were based on vague and unsubstantiated allegations and her Office remained unaware of any credible evidence to support the accusations.\u00a0\u00a0The High Commissioner therefore called upon Israel to revoke the designations against Palestinian human rights and humanitarian organizations as terrorist or unlawful organizations, absent sufficient evidentiary basis for them. \u00a0Her\u00a0Office would continue monitoring the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and she called for accountability for alleged violations by all relevant duty bearers.<\/p>\n Statement by Country Concerned<\/strong><\/p>\n Israel was not present in the room to take the floor as a country concerned.<\/p>\n State of Palestine, speaking as a country concerned, said the report had a lack of balance, as Israel was the occupying power, and Palestine was the victim of a colonialist occupation.\u00a0 The violence had caused the loss of hundreds of lives, including children, elderly, journalists and medical workers.\u00a0 These were flagrant violations of international law, and there was also medical negligence in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic.\u00a0 There had been the demolition and destruction of houses in East Jerusalem, and barbaric aggressions by settlers against Palestinians, with the settlers taking public and private property.\u00a0 The blockade of the Gaza Strip had continued for more than 14 years, a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.\u00a0 There was complete destruction of infrastructure in Gaza and the aggression had cost lives. The international community needed to mobilise to put an end to this, and ensure the people who were suffering received aid.\u00a0 The international community had not lived up to its responsibility to protect.\u00a0 There should be prosecution of those culpable.<\/p>\n State of Palestine remained convinced that the principles of international law must be respected in order to defend its inalienable rights.\u00a0 High-level interventions and remarks had continued, speaking of the suffering of children and the elderly, and calling for the protection by international organizations of civil society.\u00a0 Palestinian women and children were no different from those in other countries.\u00a0 There was an absence of justice the world over.\u00a0 The occupying power violated international law and the rights of the Palestinian people.<\/p>\n Debate<\/strong><\/p>\n In the debate, speakers said the suffering of the Palestinian people continued, that settlements were illegal, and that there should be accountability.\u00a0 Freedom of expression should be upheld, including in areas under Palestinian control.\u00a0 There could be no legitimacy for a colonising State that continued to violate international human rights law and deny the Palestinian people their inalienable right to self-determination.\u00a0 United Nations agencies should take concrete steps to implement international law and end the racist Israeli occupation.\u00a0 Unacceptable measures had been taken.\u00a0 There had been loss of Palestinian lives, and there was a vital need to put an end to the repeated violations of human rights.\u00a0 There had to be an end to the occupation and to colonisation.\u00a0 Israel should meet its obligations and compensate and help the victims.\u00a0 The High Commissioner should continue her work and mandate, and the international community should support her fully, allowing her to continue her essential work.<\/p>\n Women\u2019s involvement across the entire humanitarian and peace-building nexus should be encouraged and supported.\u00a0 Pressure should be put on Israel to respect international law within the Occupied Palestinian Territories.\u00a0 The allegations of humanitarian crimes should be investigated and the families given redress. The solution of having two States with East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine, and based on pre-1967 borders, was the only feasible solution, and given the violence and the settlements that had been built, the rights of the Palestinian people had to be met in the light of international law.\u00a0 There had to be an end to the killings.\u00a0 International law was vital in order to ensure that there was a viable Palestinian State.\u00a0 Mechanisms needed to be set up in order to prosecute those guilty of human rights violations.\u00a0 Israel must be held accountable and responsible for all of its actions, which were tantamount to apartheid.\u00a0 State of Palestine had committed itself to abide by international resolutions, but the other side had not. The occupation had to come to an end in order to end human rights violations of the Palestinian people.<\/p>\n The attacks by Hamas and other terrorist organizations within Israel were condemned by some speakers, saying that both sides needed to respect human rights.\u00a0 Civic space needed to be maintained in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The work of human rights defenders was absolutely essential and should not be penalised on either side.\u00a0 Speakers welcomed the report and reiterated their concerns about\u00a0the deterioration of the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.\u00a0\u00a0They condemned the\u00a0intensification of settlers\u2019 violence, and the blatant and brutal\u00a0aggression and disproportionate use of force that had led to the deaths of hundreds of Palestinians and urged the Council to put an end to impunity. \u00a0It was time for the Human Rights Council to take a clear position on the violations perpetrated by Israel. \u00a0Those violations were qualified as gross and amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity.<\/p>\n Since Israel was not collaborating with this Council, speakers called for it to take a step, any step for the sake of building a safer world. \u00a0A timely investigation of all parties needed to be carried out and the importance of holding multilateral negotiations was highlighted as the Quartet was the only current recognised mediator sanctioned by a Security Council resolution. \u00a0The international community was urged to\u00a0hold Israel accountable, end the culture of impunity, and cooperate with the commission of inquiry. \u00a0One speaker complained about Navi Pillay, head of the investigating body, as elements displayed showed that she had an anti-Israeli bias.<\/p>\n Concluding Remarks\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n MICHELLE BACHELET, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said it had been 18 months since Israel ceased to renew visas for staff of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights working in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, gravely impacting their work, as they had been mandated to do by the Council, namely to ensure that all those guilty of violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law were brought to justice and there was redress for all victims, including reparations.\u00a0 The Office undertook this work meticulously.\u00a0 On the future updating of the database, the High Commissioner had previously flagged the issue of resource requirements, adding that it was not possible for the Office to absorb this into the future endlessly.\u00a0 Any further work in this area could only be discharged consistent with the budgetary process.\u00a0 With regard to the issue of settlers\u2019 violence, lack of accountability by the Israeli security forces remained pervasive, despite the repeated announcements by the authorities that investigations had begun.\u00a0 Lack of accountability had allowed the violence to become more severe.\u00a0 She thanked the Council for its interest.<\/p>\n Link:\u00a0https:\/\/www.ungeneva.org\/en\/news-media\/meeting-summary\/2022\/03\/midday-high-commissioner-human-rights-notes-significant-increase<\/a><\/p>\n ___________<\/p>\n Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the information media; not an official record.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 4 March 2022 High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet today noted a significant increase in violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory during an interactive dialogue with the Human Rights Council on her report on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice. 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\nMs. Bachelet\u00a0called on Israeli authorities to\u00a0conduct prompt, independent, impartial, thorough, effective and transparent investigations into all alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including allegations of international crimes, and to ensure effective remedies to victims. \u00a0Regarding the\u00a0accountability of Palestinian authorities, she noted that the reporting period was marked by increased violence by Palestinian Security Forces, which may amount to\u00a0violations of the right to life and to physical integrity.<\/p>\n