Agenda Item 2: Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the High Commissioner and the Secretary-General
General debate on - The oral update by the High Commissioner on the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of independent international commission of inquiry on the protests in the Occupied Palestinian Territory
Statement by: International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD) and Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ)
11 September 2019
Thank you Mr. President,
We thank the High Commissioner for her oral updates.
Last year, Palestinians decided to protest near the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, for their right to return and their right to land.
Each of the protests, which have been mostly peaceful, have been met by “slow methodical shooting” from the Israeli side and it is estimated that in 2018 alone over twenty-three thousand Palestinians were injured by Israeli forces and many have been killed.
Palestinians continue to protest every Friday for their rights, despite the risks, and attacks from Israeli forces go on and on.
As the Commission of Inquiry stated in its report, Israeli forces shoot persons “who did not pose an imminent threat to its soldiers”.
In doing so, Israel violated the right to life of Palestinian people, the principle of distinction and its obligations as occupying power.
EAFORD and Geneva International Centre for Justice regret that Israel did not cooperate with the Commission during its inquiry.
We call on this Council to put pressure on Israel to respect its international obligations and to allow investigations within its territory.
We further call for better access to health care for the numerous victims of the conflict.
Finally, we call for accountability for all acts perpetrated by the Israeli forces which, during these protests, amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
I thank you, Mr. President.
Justice, Human rights, Geneva, geneva4justice, GICJ, Geneva International Centre For Justice
