The scene of destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes in the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip on November 1, 2023. Photo: Abed Khaled/ AP.
With the Gaza conflict approaching 100 days, an immediate ceasefire is “more urgent than ever,” the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said on Friday.
Ahead of Sunday's grim milestone, spokeswoman Liz Throssell reiterated that the office's staff must have access to Israel and all parts of the occupied Palestinian territories to investigate human rights abuses by all parties.
14 weeks have passed since the escalation of the conflict following the attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups against Israel on October 7, 2023.
Israel launched a massive and destructive military response. So far, more than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and civilian infrastructure such as homes, hospitals, schools, bakeries, places of worship, water systems and even UN facilities have been damaged or destroyed.
Stop suffering
Throssell recalled that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, had repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire “to end the appalling suffering and loss of life and to enable the rapid and effective delivery of humanitarian assistance.” a population suffering from appalling levels of hunger and disease,” adding: “This is more urgent than ever.”
Regarding the development of hostilities, he said that the Office had repeatedly highlighted Israel's repeated violations of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law such as distinction, proportionality and precaution in carrying out attacks.
Danger of war crimes
“The High Commissioner has emphasized that failure to comply with these commitments risks liability for war crimes and has also warned of the risks of other atrocities,” Throssell said.
He noted that intensive Israeli air, land and sea bombardment continues across much of the Gaza Strip, particularly in the provinces of Deir al Balah and Khan Younis, where tens of thousands of people had previously fled in search of safety.
Meanwhile, Palestinian armed groups continued to fire indiscriminate rockets at Israel, some of which were intercepted, he noted.
Commitment to protection
Throssell called on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to take immediate action to protect civilians in accordance with international law.
“Ordering the exodus of civilians in no way relieves the IDF of its obligation to protect those who remain behind, regardless of their reasons, while carrying out its military operations,” he said.
Israel must also immediately end arbitrary detention, torture, ill-treatment and enforced disappearances of Palestinians in Gaza, he added, noting that hundreds of people are reportedly being held in several undisclosed locations inside and outside the enclave.
Desperation and extreme scarcity
The office also highlighted the “desperate scenario” in northern Gaza, where the population faces severe shortages of food, water and other basic goods.
“Access to humanitarian assistance remains extremely difficult, despite repeated requests from the United Nations to the Israel Defense Forces to facilitate the movement of humanitarian assistance convoys,” Throssell said, before pointing to the situation in the south, where more than 1.3 Millions of people have been displaced and are crowding into the city of Rafah, which previously had 300,000 inhabitants.
Situation in the West Bank
Turning to the West Bank, he said 330 Palestinians, including 84 children, were confirmed dead since hostilities began. The majority, 321, were killed by Israeli security forces, while eight died at the hands of settlers.
He added that entire pastoralist communities have been forcibly displaced due to settler violence, which could amount to forced relocation.
Last month, the office released a report on the West Bank in which it stressed the need to immediately stop the use of military weapons and methods in police operations. It also called for an end to arbitrary detentions and ill-treatment of Palestinians and the lifting of discriminatory restrictions on freedom of movement.
“Lack of accountability for unlawful killings remains widespread, as does impunity for settler violence, in violation of Israel's obligations as an occupying power to ensure the security of Palestinians in the West Bank,” Throssell said.
The UN human rights body in the occupied Palestinian territories, which continues to monitor and document the human rights situation in Gaza and the West Bank, will submit two reports to the United Nations Human Rights Council during its next session, to be held in Geneva in February.
A triple threat to children
Photo: UNICEF/Abed Zagout An 8-year-old girl waits for her turn to receive food in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned of the “triple threat” of conflict, disease and malnutrition that is “stalking” children in Gaza.
The suffering was too great, Lucia Elm, special representative of the Fund for the Situation of Children in the State of Palestine, told reporters in Geneva.
“With each passing day, children and families in the Gaza Strip are at increased risk of death from the sky, disease from lack of clean water, and deprivation from lack of food.
“And for the two Israeli children still held hostage in Gaza, the nightmare that began on October 7 continues,” he said, calling for their unconditional release.
He also spoke about how the bombings are making it difficult to provide much-needed aid.
“When I was in Gaza last week, we spent six days trying to get fuel and medical supplies to the north, and for six days movement restrictions prevented us from traveling. “My colleagues in Gaza endured the same challenge for weeks before my arrival,” he said.
Elm said thousands of children have already died in the conflict and thousands more young people are at risk unless steps are taken to address bottlenecks in security, logistics related to the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid and the increase the volume of commercial products for sale in the Gaza Strip.
Increased tensions
For his part, the Emergency Relief Coordinator expressed this Friday in the Security Council his concern about recent statements by Israeli ministers about plans to promote the mass relocation of civilians from Gaza to third countries, which is currently referred to as “voluntary relocation”.
“These statements raise serious concerns about a possible forcible mass transfer or deportation of the Palestinian population from the Gaza Strip, which would be strictly prohibited under international law,” Martin Griffith said via video call, adding: “Any attempt to transform the population. “The composition of the Gaza Strip must be firmly rejected.”
Griffith also expressed concern about the risk of further regional expansion of the conflict, noting that there was already an increase in hostilities in the West Bank and an increase in tensions in Lebanon, the Red Sea and Yemen. “I reiterate my call for a ceasefire,” he said.
Illegal evacuations
The Under-Secretary-General for Human Rights then intervened and declared that the events in Gaza were not just a “by-product of the conflict” but a direct consequence of the way the hostilities had been conducted.
Ilze Brands Kehris noted that while Israel stated that the evacuation orders issued since October 12 were for the safety of Palestinian civilians, “it appears to have taken few steps to ensure that such relocations are in accordance with international law. “
The Secretary of State referred in particular to the lack of access to adequate hygiene, health, safety, nutritional and housing conditions, as well as the adoption of measures to minimize the risk of separation from family members.
“These forced evacuations may constitute forced relocation, a war crime, as they do not meet the necessary conditions to be legal,” he claimed.
(With information from UN News)
Israel denies before the International Court of Justice that it is committing genocide in Gaza
Israel's legal team on Friday described South Africa's application to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as “astonishing”. Photo: Efe.
The Israeli legal team described this Friday as “astonishing” South Africa's request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to impose precautionary measures against Israel, which include the “immediate suspension of military activities” in Gaza, assuring that it “will… …” “The other side” of the conflict “can continue its attacks.”
Attorney Christopher Staker opined that “this request is frankly astonishing” and explained that “a state that is not a party to the conflict makes a request for precautionary measures requiring the unilateral suspension of military operations by a single party to the conflict. The other party remains free to continue its attacks.”
In addition, he warned that “the picture presented yesterday by South Africa regarding the war in Gaza consists of “several isolated incidents” that “are not evidence of the intent of the entire military operation as a whole,” rejecting the accusation of “genocide” back ” presented yesterday by the South African team. He also called on the International Court of Justice to take into account in its ruling that Israel “is committed to respecting international humanitarian law” and is “taking measures to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Gaza.”
(With information from page 12)
Gaza: There is also fear of the arrival of life
The grandmother of Salma and Alma Al-Jadba, Palestinian twins born during the Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip, holds them in a tent where they live in Rafah along with their displaced family who fled their homeland due to Israeli attacks seek refuge in the southern Gaza Strip. December 17, 2023. Photo: Portal.
Births in Gaza today face major challenges given the deteriorating situation of the population and the lack of security even in medical facilities, the United Nations (UN) has widely warned.
The arrival of new life in the enclave also triggers fear, according to Dominic Allen, representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for the State of Palestine.
“Personally, I was very afraid for the millions of women and girls in Gaza,” he told reporters at a news conference in Jerusalem after a visit to the besieged region.
“The situation in Gaza is beyond our worst nightmares and is only getting worse. I felt fear and desperation everywhere,” the representative warned.
The Population Fund estimates that 690,000 women and girls in the enclave are of menstrual age and 5,500 pregnant women will give birth in the coming months.
This latest index represents 180 births per day in Gaza, Allen said, highlighting the challenges faced by both pregnant women and medical workers.
At the same time, pregnant women suffer from thirst, malnutrition and poor health; “If the bombs don't kill them, if disease, starvation and dehydration don't reach them, it will just be birth, and we can't allow that,” he added.
Unfpa's scarce humanitarian assistance brought menstrual hygiene management kits and other interagency reproductive health kits to the enclave, which will support 360 births with clinical obstetric care.
“Our focus right now is really on psychosocial first aid. “We have youth groups on the ground doing this work to alleviate some of these tense moments,” he added.
The representative stressed the need for a safe environment to provide assistance, while nowhere is safe in Gaza.
“We have been committed to eliminating conflicts in UN facilities and hospitals. All these buildings and all civilians should be protected, but that is not happening,” he lamented.
Fear is still there everywhere, he emphasized.
(With information from Prensa Latina)
Palestine accuses Israel of underestimating the convening of the International Court of Justice
The ministry accused the Israeli military of committing “war crimes” and ignoring international calls to protect civilians. | Photo: WAFA.
The fact that Israel continues its attacks on the Gaza Strip after the genocide case before the International Court of Justice shows that it does not respect international law, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
The ministry accused the Israeli military of committing “war crimes” and ignoring international calls to protect civilians.
He also condemned the recent round of Israeli military incursions in the occupied West Bank, which have become a common occurrence amid the war.
The Ministry strongly condemned the ongoing genocidal war that the occupying state is waging against our people for the 99th consecutive day.
Despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ) sessions on this serious matter, the Zionist State continues to commit massacres and bomb houses and facilities housing displaced persons and citizens, particularly in the center and south of the Gaza Strip.
The occupying army carried out 13 massacres in the last 24 hours, leaving 151 martyrs dead and 248 injuredThis requires renewed international humanitarian action in the UN Security Council and the adoption of a resolution to end the occupation's hysterical war against the Palestinian people.
The ministry said: “Israel's persistence in its devastating war against the Palestinians in Gaza is clear evidence that it does not respect all international calls and demands to protect innocent civilians, provide humanitarian assistance and return the displaced to their homes.” in the north of the Gaza Strip.”
Meanwhile, the ministry condemned acts of violence and war crimes committed by Israeli forces and colonial settlers, as well as the expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
He also condemned the killing of 19-year-old Khaled Al-Zubaidi, who died after being brutally attacked and beaten by Israeli soldiers in the town of Zeita, north of Tulkarm.
He also condemned Israel's obstruction of residents' freedom of movement and forcing them to take longer routes to reach their destination.
(With information from Telesur)
Protests in the UK in support of Palestine
Thousands of people demonstrated in this capital today in support of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip following attacks by the United States and United Kingdom against the Houthis in Yemen. Photo: PL.
Thousands of people demonstrated in this capital today in support of the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip following attacks by the United States and United Kingdom against the Houthis in Yemen.
The initiative is part of the so-called Palestine Solidarity Campaign, in which 30 countries take part and whose aim is to express social rejection of Israel's military intervention in this enclave.
During this Saturday's protest, which was marked by tight security measures, participants carried banners and Palestinian flags rejecting the attacks in Tel Aviv since last October.
To ensure the peaceful nature of this action, London's Metropolitan Police deployed around 1,700 officers and ensured that it took place on specific streets in the city.
The more than 50,000 participants rejected the bombing of Houthi positions in Yemen by the United States and United Kingdom last Thursday after they attacked merchant ships in the Red Sea in retaliation for Israel's military intervention in the Gaza Strip.
(With information from PL)