UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemned this Friday “entrenched impunity” in the face of violations committed by Israelis and Palestinians for “decades”, in a report that includes “serious violations of human rights” in the occupied Palestinian territories – the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip – and in Israel between November 2022 and October 2023.

“The entrenched impunity that our office has documented for decades cannot be allowed to continue,” Turk said, arguing that “there must be accountability on all sides for violations observed during 56 years of occupation, 16 years of blockade of Gaza and to this day.”

“Justice is essential to ending cycles of violence and so that Palestinians and Israelis can take meaningful steps toward peace.”

The report presented by Turk’s office covers the period from November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2023, and states that “the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories deteriorated sharply during this period.” In turn, it was noted that “increased use of lethal force in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem,” in addition to the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip following the October 7 attacks by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

So remember that Hamas and “other Palestinian armed groups” began attacks on Israeli territories on October 7. who answered with “intensive attacks” on the Gaza Strip. “The escalation continued beyond the reporting period, resulting in widespread human suffering and enormous consequences for civilians, especially women and children,” the report adds.

It is also clarified that during the period covered by the document, Israeli forces killed 338 Palestinians in the West Bank. including 84 minors, and 30 Israelis, including six children, died in attacks in the West BankIn May, a woman was killed by a shell in Israel. The aforementioned attacks on October 7 killed approximately 1,200 civilians..

As part of the Israeli offensive on Gaza, the report highlights two Israeli bombings in the Jabaliya refugee camp, the largest in the sector and another against Yarmouk in Gaza City, in which explosive weapons were used with great force in densely populated areas, causing “enormous destruction” and the deaths of at least 153 people, although the figure could be more than 240 .

“The use of these weapons in densely populated areas raises serious concerns about the extent to which these attacks comply with the principles of selectivity, proportionality and precaution in military operations, given the indiscriminate impact of these types of weapons when used in these areas and in areas where massive civilian casualties are foreseeable.” , said Turk.

Thus, Türk emphasized that “launch an indiscriminate attack causing death or injury to civilians or carrying out an attack knowing that it will result in collateral damage, injury or excessive harm to civilians constitutes a war crime“.

On the other hand, Tusk condemned attacks on hospitals in Gaza and emphasized the importance of having accountability actions of the Israeli authorities in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

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The office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasized that the report includes a wide range of killings, kidnappings, destruction of civilian property, collective punishment, deprivation of essential services, attacks on civilian infrastructure, forced displacement, hate speech, sexual assault and torture, among other crimes for which he requested an investigation to ascertain the full extent of these violations of international law.

Likewise, Türk declared to all parties that put an immediate end to these violations and investigate these allegations while demanding cooperation with international accountability mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Finally, in its findings and recommendations, the report emphasizes that “the shocking attacks by armed groups between October 7 and 8 and the subsequent massive Israeli military response caused unprecedented destruction and the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip, causing a shocking humanitarian crisis.”

“Israel’s chosen means and methods of war have caused enormous suffering to the Palestinians, including large-scale killings of civilians, large-scale and repeated displacement of people, destruction of homes and deprivation of sufficient food and basic necessities for life. “, he states.

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In this sense, he emphasizes that “All parts” they committed “Clear violations of international humanitarian lawor, including possible war crimes” and reiterates Turk’s call for a ceasefire to ensure respect for humanitarian law.

Turk called on Palestinian groups “punish all violations of international law” committed since October 7 and guaranteeing “humane treatment” and “immediate release” all hostages, as well as a cessation of shelling of Israeli territory.

In addition, he asks Israel to “immediately put an end to all practice of collective punishmentincluding lifting the blockade and closures, as well as the “total siege” of Gaza, and urgently and immediately guarantee access to humanitarian assistanceat a level sufficient to meet needs.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights is also asking security forces to “immediately” take steps to uphold international humanitarian law in the context of the conflict and “punish” those responsible for violations, as well as guarantee the right of return to those who have been forcibly displaced.

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Finally, he demanded that Israel stop the practice administrative detentionswhich would “end 56 years of occupation” and guarantee that its security forces would use firearms “only in cases of imminent threat of death or serious injury” in their operations.

Europe Press