Israel/Palestine: Human Rights Situation - Security Council Briefing | United Nations

Описание: Briefing by Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
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UN human rights chief Volker Türk called for “an independent, prompt and thorough investigation” into the killings of 15 medical personnel and humanitarian aid workers in Gaza, stating that “those responsible for any violation of international law must be held to account.”

High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk today (03 Apr) told Council members that he is “appalled” by the recent killings of 15 medical personnel and humanitarian aid workers, “which raise further concerns over the commission of war crimes by the Israeli military.”

Türk said, “The Israeli military continues to strike camps for people who have been displaced numerous times, who have nowhere safe to go. The Israeli military also continues to force civilians to move.”

“Half of Gaza is now under mandatory evacuation orders or has been declared a no-go zone,” the UN human rights chief added.

He reiterated, “these orders fail to comply with the requirements of international humanitarian law.

Türk also highlighted, “Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups continue to launch indiscriminate rockets from Gaza into Israel, in breach of international humanitarian law.”

He said, “I am also deeply concerned about the fate and wellbeing of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.”

The High Commissioner is also “alarmed by the inflammatory rhetoric by senior Israeli officials around seizing, annexing and dividing territory, and about transferring Palestinians outside Gaza.”

“This raises grave concerns about the commission of international crimes and runs counter to the fundamental principle of international law against the acquisition of territory by force,” he added.

Türk highlighted, “in Resolution 2735 passed last June, this Council rejected any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip, including any actions that reduce the territory of Gaza.”

The High Commissioner urged “the immediate restoration of the ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza.”

He warned again that “there is a high and increasing risk that atrocity crimes are being committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

The human rights chief stressed, “Under the Geneva Conventions, States have an obligation to act when a serious violation of international humanitarian law has been committed.”

Under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, he continued, “State parties have the responsibility to act to prevent such a crime, when risk becomes apparent.”

Türk urged all those with influence to “ensure the protection of civilians as a matter of absolute priority,” adding that “it is essential that there is full accountability for all violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.”

“All hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. All those arbitrarily detained must also be released. Israel must refrain from any acts amounting to forcible transfer of Gaza’s population,” he concluded.