{"id":290140,"date":"2023-10-24T10:25:25","date_gmt":"2023-10-24T14:25:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/?post_type=document&p=290140"},"modified":"2023-10-27T10:43:50","modified_gmt":"2023-10-27T14:43:50","slug":"as-civilian-casualties-reach-record-levels-in-gaza-third-committee-underscores-need-to-end-war-lift-blockade-of-essential-needs-hold-parties-accountable-press-release","status":"publish","type":"document","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/document\/as-civilian-casualties-reach-record-levels-in-gaza-third-committee-underscores-need-to-end-war-lift-blockade-of-essential-needs-hold-parties-accountable-press-release\/","title":{"rendered":"As Civilian Casualties Reach Record Levels in Gaza, Third Committee Underscores Need to End War, Lift Blockade of Essential Needs, Hold Parties Accountable – Press Release"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/div>\n
SEVENTY-EIGHTH SESSION,<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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34TH & 35TH MEETINGS (AM & PM)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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GA\/SHC\/4390<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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24 OCTOBER 2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Committee also Highlights Human Rights Violations in Four Countries, Including Iran, Syria<\/h4>\n

The raging war in Gaza is the latest symptom of the international community\u2019s epic failure to address decades of Israel\u2019s illegality and impunity, the expert tasked with monitoring human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) today.<\/p>\n

Francesca P. Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, said much of what Palestinian paramilitary forces have done against civilians in Israel are war crimes and must be accounted for.\u00a0 In response, Israeli occupation forces have yet again indiscriminately bombarded the Gaza Strip, hitting entire residential areas, schools, hospitals, mosques and churches and killing around 5,000\u00a0people.\u00a0Israel has further tightened the unlawful siege of the Gaza Strip, depriving the population of indispensable items of survival and using starvation as a method of war.\u00a0 Palestinian children \u2014 constituting half the population under occupation \u2014 are the prime victims of this system, she said, reporting that, from\u00a02008 until 6\u00a0October\u00a02023, 1,434\u00a0Palestinian children were killed, primarily at the hands of Israeli occupation forces.<\/p>\n

Elaborating on the situation further, Navi Pillay, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel, unequivocally condemned the killing of over 1,000\u00a0Israeli citizens by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups as well as the taking of over 200\u00a0Israeli hostages.\u00a0 She also unequivocally condemned Israeli military attacks, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians.\u00a0 Calling for an immediate ceasefire, she underscored that the Israeli Government must end its 56-year occupation and recognize the Palestinian people\u2019s right to self-determination.<\/p>\n

When the floor opened for questions and comments, the representative of Israel said the Commission has been dedicated to justifying and downplaying Palestinian terrorism, while delegitimizing and demonizing Israel\u2019s efforts to defend itself.\u00a0 However, Israel goes to extraordinary lengths to avoid civilian casualties, despite the Palestinian terrorists\u2019 use of civilians as human shields.<\/p>\n

The observer for the State of Palestine highlighted the massive scale of Israel\u2019s brutal war against Gaza, which has been besieged for 17\u00a0years.\u00a0 Warning against Israel\u2019s campaign to normalize its crimes, she called on the international community to recognize the equal value of Palestinian life and end the war.\u00a0 \u201cWe are not human animals, but human beings who have suffered loss [\u2026] for decades,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Some delegates expressed their concerns with the broad reach of the Commission\u2019s work and its open-ended mandate, while others supported its well-founded investigations.<\/p>\n

In the first camp, the representative of the United Kingdom said his delegation regretted the creation of the Commission in May\u00a02021.\u00a0Echoing that view, the representative of Albania called its report one-sided, as it does not reflect the destructive role of Hamas and other terrorist groups.\u00a0 Along similar lines, Australia\u2019s delegate said the Commission\u2019s excessive scope does not support the peace process.<\/p>\n

Among those delegates supporting the Commission\u2019s work and its latest report, Malaysia\u2019s delegate condemned efforts to discredit its findings, noting that Israel\u2019s atrocities have been well documented.\u00a0 In the same vein, the representative of Bangladesh condemned all illegal acts and the culture of impunity enjoyed by Israel.\u00a0Adding to that, Cuba\u2019s delegate attributed Israel\u2019s impunity to the support it receives from Washington.<\/p>\n

Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory<\/u><\/p>\n

In the afternoon, the Committee further elaborated on the theme \u201cPromotion and protection of human rights\u201d, with interactive dialogues featuring presentations by:\u00a0 Navi Pillay, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel; Francesca P. Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967; and Isha Dyfan, Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia.<\/p>\n

Ms. PILLAY said that the eruption of violence in Israel and Palestine since 7\u00a0October is profoundly concerning, citing thousands of civilian deaths and extensive damage to civilian structures.\u00a0 The Commission unequivocally condemns the killing of over 1,000\u00a0Israeli citizens by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups as well as the taking of over 200\u00a0Israeli hostages, including children, she added.\u00a0 It also unequivocally condemns Israeli military attacks, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Palestinian civilians.\u00a0 The Commission calls for an immediate ceasefire and safe return of all hostages and will continue to collect and preserve evidence, in view of accountability for human rights violations, identifying individual criminal responsibility.\u00a0 Calling on the Israeli Government, the Palestinian Authority and the Hamas de facto authority in Gaza to support the investigation and grant access as soon as possible, she urged the General Assembly to support the process.<\/p>\n

Turning to the \u201cReport of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel\u201d (document\u00a0A\/78\/198<\/a>), the Chair recalled that, while the report was completed before this upsurge in violence, its findings are \u201ctragically relevant\u201d, as it examines the use of force by Israel and the de facto authorities in Gaza.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s increasingly militarized law enforcement in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza consistently violate international humanitarian law, she said.\u00a0Such actions are linked to Israel\u2019s goals of maintaining the unlawful occupation and weakening Palestinian opposition, as well as its political, economic and social cohesion.\u00a0 The Commission also finds that the indiscriminate firing of projectiles by armed groups in Gaza toward Israeli cities constitute war crimes.<\/p>\n

Israel has used excessive force in disrupting protests among Palestinians asserting their right to self-determination, resulting in deaths and permanent injuries, she said.\u00a0 She added that large scale arrest operations to dismantle armed groups in the West Bank are treated as military operations, resulting in the application of far more permissive rules of engagement.\u00a0 One such result was the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in Jenin in May\u00a02022.\u00a0 The report also addresses the human rights violations of Israeli authorities and Hamas in Gaza of withholding bodies for \u201cbargaining chips\u201d, causing severe trauma to families of the deceased, with a particular gendered impact on Palestinian female relatives, she said.\u00a0 The continuing unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory has overwhelmingly affected Palestinian children, who experience human violations, some of which amount to war crimes, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJustice takes time, but it is our collective obligation to pursue it,\u201d she said, noting that the General Assembly\u2019s cooperation to request an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the Israeli Occupation last year is encouraging.\u00a0 All parties must cooperate fully with investigations, she added, stressing that, above all, the Israeli Government must end its 56-year occupation and recognize the Palestinian people\u2019s right to self-determination.<\/p>\n

When the floor opened for questions and comments, the representative of\u00a0Israel<\/u>\u00a0called Hamas a barbaric group that has filmed unimaginable acts of violence for all the world to see since its 7\u00a0October attacks on Israel.\u00a0 This Commission has been dedicated to justifying and downplaying Palestinian terrorism, while delegitimizing and demonizing Israel\u2019s efforts to defend itself.\u00a0The Commission has sent a clear message to Hamas, other terrorist groups and Iran that they have little to fear on the international front.\u00a0 The Human Rights Council and its open-ended Commission on Inquiry has created the immoral equivalent between a democracy defending itself, following international law, and radical terrorists.\u00a0 Hamas and other terrorist groups have been carrying out acts of terrorism for decades.\u00a0The report is not just a mockery but a damning indictment of the moral corruption of the Commission.\u00a0 Israel goes to extraordinary lengths to avoid civilian casualties, despite the Palestinian terrorists\u2019 use of civilians as human shields.\u00a0 He said the report is riddled with many inaccuracies.\u00a0 Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ was founded in the wake of the Holocaust and a sacred vow of \u201cnever again\u201d.\u00a0 Israel will not rest until its people can live in peace and security.<\/p>\n

The observer for\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>\u00a0asked anyone to explain why the situation in human rights in Palestine, as a conflict area, should not be examined by the Committee. \u00a0She asked why the violations of the occupying Power should not be looked at and why Israel should enjoy a special status.\u00a0 \u201cAre the Palestinians less worthy,\u201d she asked.\u00a0 States have a duty and obligation to protect their citizens and the State of Palestine also has a duty and obligation to protect its citizens, she said, stressing that it is seeking redress through legal and political channels, including the Commission on Inquiry.\u00a0 Its mandate is to investigate violations against Palestinian citizens and present the facts as they are.\u00a0 Many Member States are already informed of these facts.\u00a0 The scale of Israel\u2019s brutal war against Gaza is massive, with Gaza besieged for 17\u00a0years, as Israel runs a campaign that aims to make its crimes normal.\u00a0 She called on the international community to stay out of this criminal campaign.\u00a0 \u201cWe are not human animals, but human beings who have suffered loss [\u2026] for decades,\u201d she said.\u00a0 She called for the international community to recognize the equal value of Palestinian life and end the war.<\/p>\n

In the ensuring debate, many delegates condemned the attacks on civilians and urged all parties to adhere to international law and humanitarian law and allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians trapped in Gaza.\u00a0 Some delegates expressed their concerns with the broad reach of the Commission\u2019s work and its open-ended mandate, while others supported the Commission\u2019s work and felt its investigations were well founded.<\/p>\n

In the first camp, the representative of the\u00a0United Kingdom<\/u>\u00a0said his delegation regretted the creation of the Commission in May\u00a02021.\u00a0 His delegation firmly supports human rights and the Commission does not further those goals. Echoing that view, the representative of\u00a0Albania<\/u>\u00a0called the report one-sided and said it does not reflect the destructive role of Hamas and other terrorist groups.\u00a0 He expressed concern about its unlimited scope and the absence of a time frame for its duration, a view echoed by\u00a0Hungary<\/u>\u2019s delegate.<\/p>\n

The representative of the\u00a0European Union<\/u>, in its capacity as observer, said her delegation did not support the Commission\u2019s creation in May\u00a02021 because of its broad mandate and open-ended scope.\u00a0 She said the current conflict must be urgently ended and a two-State solution in line with relevant Security Council resolutions achieved.\u00a0 The representative of\u00a0Australia<\/u>\u00a0said the protection of civilian lives must be the priority, with rules of humanitarian law and international law upheld.\u00a0A solution to the conflict must be guided by the principles of a just two-State solution.\u00a0 The Commission\u2019s excessive scope does not support the process of peace.<\/p>\n

Among those delegates supporting the Commission\u2019s work and its latest report, the representative of\u00a0Iraq<\/u>\u00a0asked what mechanisms the international community should use to hold the occupying Power responsible for its actions.\u00a0\u00a0Algeria<\/u>\u2019s delegate asked what steps can be taken in the face of the Security Council\u2019s inaction.\u00a0 Can the international community depend on international courts or is a special tribunal needed?<\/p>\n

Malaysia<\/u>\u2019s delegate supported the Commission\u2019s work and condemned efforts to discredit its findings.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s atrocities have been well documented, he said, expressing solidarity with the Palestinians.\u00a0 The representative of\u00a0Bangladesh<\/u>\u00a0condemned all illegal acts and the culture of impunity enjoyed by Israel.\u00a0 The representative of\u00a0Cuba<\/u>\u00a0said the United States gives Israel this impunity through its support, while the representative of\u00a0Iran<\/u>\u00a0asked what Member States can do to ensure Israel is included in the annex of the Secretary-General\u2019s report on armed conflict.<\/p>\n

Responding, Ms. PILLAY noted that the report was prepared before the 7 October Hamas attack occurred, adding that the Commission has issued a press statement stating there is clear evidence of war crimes, violations of international law and targeting of civilians.\u00a0 Those responsible must be held accountable.\u00a0 She noted that many delegates shared the Commission\u2019s focus on the need for justice and accountability when humanitarian law has been violated in Israel and Palestine.\u00a0 She said the Commission has a unique expanded mandate and the United Nations does not need to create another institution.<\/p>\n

Referring to statements that the Commission is biased, she said she served more than eight\u00a0years as a judge on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, and many of the same allegations of atrocities were described.\u00a0\u201cNo one accused us of bias,\u201d she said, adding that Commission members have experience in judging these types of crimes. \u00a0She appealed to Israel to let the Commission into areas of Palestine, Gaza and the West Bank and let it carry out investigations to ensure justice and accountability.\u00a0 \u00a0The Commission\u2019s mandate is to safeguard and share information with courts.\u00a0 She said Member States must adhere to the international humanitarian laws and conventions they have approved.<\/p>\n

Palestinian Territories Occupied since 1967<\/u><\/p>\n

Ms. ALBANESE, presenting her second report (document\u00a0A\/78\/545<\/a>), said the events of 7\u00a0October have marked a major tragic turn in the history of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.\u00a0 About 1,400\u00a0Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed in Israel, with thousands more injured following brutal attacks by Palestinian paramilitary forces emanating from the occupied Gaza Strip.\u00a0 Much of what these militants have done against civilians in Israel are war crimes and must be accounted for.\u00a0 In response, Israeli occupation forces have yet again indiscriminately bombarded the Gaza Strip, hitting entire residential areas, schools, hospitals, mosques and churches and killing around 5,000 people.\u00a0 Israel has further tightened the unlawful siege of the Gaza Strip, depriving the population of indispensable items of survival at such a critical time, including food, water, energy and medicines.\u00a0 Starvation as a tool of war is now being waged on the civilian population of Gaza, exposing those who have survived the incessant bombardment to further risk of death or disease.<\/p>\n

She highlighted these events as the latest symptom of \u201cthe epic failure\u201d of the international community to address decades of Israel\u2019s illegality and impunity and end its \u201cforever occupation\u201d.\u00a0 Palestinian children, constituting half of the population under occupation, are the prime victims of this system, living in constant fear and despair.\u00a0 One of the most troubling requests I heard from the children I interviewed for this report was to \u201cask the world\u201d why it continues to neglect them.\u00a0 \u201cAre Palestinian children less worthy?\u201d\u00a0 \u201cAre we less human?\u201d,\u201d she recalled.\u00a0 For any Palestinian child, living under Israeli occupation is a deeply traumatic experience, she said, adding that Israel deliberately deprives Palestinian children of their fundamental human rights, as part of its drive to impede the development of Palestinian society.\u00a0Lethal attacks on Palestinians by Israeli soldiers and armed settlers in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, and methodical military assaults against Gaza, epitomize daily hardships and injustices endured by generations of Palestinian children.<\/p>\n

She reported that, from 2008 until 6\u00a0October 2023, 1,434\u00a0Palestinian children were killed, with an additional\u00a032,175 sustaining injuries, primarily at the hands of Israeli occupation forces.\u00a0 Of these, 1,025\u00a0children were killed in Gaza alone since the unlawful blockade began in\u00a02007.\u00a0 During the same timeframe, 25\u00a0Israeli children were killed, mostly by Palestinian assailants, and 524 were injured.\u00a0 The plight of Palestinian children is amplified by their frequent encounters with Israel\u2019s so-called \u2018juvenile military justice system\u2019, a legal oxymoron in itself.\u00a0 An average of 500\u00a0to\u00a0700 Palestinian children, as young as\u00a012, are arbitrarily detained by Israeli occupation forces each year.\u00a0 Palestinian children are often arrested in the middle of the night during violent raids, interrogated without a lawyer or a family member, and subjected to brutal practices and solitary confinement before being charged, sentenced and imprisoned.\u00a0 Documented mistreatment inflicted upon children often amount to torture.\u00a0 Israel\u2019s rhetoric and practices, framing Palestinian children as \u201chuman shields\u201d or \u201cterrorists\u201d to justify the violence against them and their parents \u2014 often amplified in Western discourse \u2014 \u201cprofoundly dehumanize Palestinian children\u201d, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether in the densely populated besieged Gaza Strip, the impoverished West Bank enclaves or annexed East Jerusalem, generations of Palestinian children have seen their lives reduced to the bare minimum and cut short,\u201d she said, adding that the coercive environment Israel subjects them to leads to the \u201cunchilding\u201d of Palestinian children.\u00a0 She underscored that many of the Israeli occupation forces’ violations detailed in her report may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, urging the international community \u2014 including the International Criminal Court \u2014 to end the cycle of impunity, bring to justice the perpetrators of all alleged crimes committed there, and ensure Israel\u2019s compliance with international law.<\/p>\n

In the ensuing interactive dialogue, delegates condemned the indiscriminate airstrikes in Gaza as well as attacks by Hamas on children.\u00a0 Some underscored Israel\u2019s right to self-defence, while others called on the occupying Power to take steps towards a two-State solution.<\/p>\n

The observer of the\u00a0State of Palestine<\/u>\u00a0said that more than 2,000\u00a0Palestinian children have been killed over 18\u00a0days in the Gaza Strip and every 15\u00a0minutes a child is pulled from the rubble of their home.\u00a0 Many small hearts are now filled with fear and unbearable pain due to the unrelenting bombardment, she said, calling on the international community to support an immediate ceasefire.\u00a0 Children in Palestine need only to open their windows to see the wall, apartheid and other human rights violations they experience every day, she added.\u00a0\u201cChildren cannot unsee killing,\u201d cannot unhear the bombing and crying voices of bereaved mothers and they cannot unfeel oppression and loss or restore the sense of family or a school, she said.\u00a0 This is what parents and grandparents have had to endure for years, she added, underscoring that a child is a child.\u00a0 All children must be protected and none should be targeted.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Israel<\/u>\u00a0said the Special Rapporteur hides behind the guise of human rights to spread lies about his country following the worst attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust.\u00a0 She is not independent or unbiased, he said, citing instances of support for the terrorist group Hamas on social media and her use of the term \u201cJewish lobby\u201d.\u00a0Worse, at an online conference in Gaza, Ms.\u00a0Albanese said that resistance to occupation requires violence.\u00a0Is slicing open a pregnant woman and removing the fetus and stabbing it required violence?\u00a0 Does it look like 1,400\u00a0dead Israelis and kidnapped hostages, he asked.\u00a0 Condemning the Rapporteur for questioning clear acts of genocide committed by Hamas, he highlighted the irony of her taking offense when her antisemitism is called out.\u00a0 Israel refuses to engage with her, he said, decrying that the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ empowers an antisemitic voice by providing a platform to spread vitriol.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Japan<\/u> emphasized the importance of the release of hostages and de-escalating the situation as soon as possible.\u00a0 Given the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, Japan will give $10\u00a0million to international organizations and continue to provide assistance if appropriate.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0South Africa<\/u>\u00a0underscored the importance of trusting the independent experts of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.\u00a0The world is witnessing relentless airstrikes on Gaza, a densely populated city where half the population are children as well as a \u201cshockingly high death toll\u201d.\u00a0 The only way to protect children\u2019s lives is to stop this violence, he said.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Yemen<\/u>\u00a0said that Israel, the occupying Power, continues to target Palestinian children and their families, decrying the destruction of homes as contrary to international law.\u00a0 He asked how Israel can be held accountable for violating the rights of children.\u00a0The representative of\u00a0Jordan<\/u>\u00a0said the collective punishment of a besieged population is a war crime.\u00a0 She asked if the only democracy in the Middle East has continued to block the Special Rapporteur from entering its territory.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Chile<\/u>\u00a0appealed to Israel to respect the rights of girls and boys and respect their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.\u00a0 To that end, it is in everyone\u2019s interest to start a dialogue and move toward stability in the region, she said.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Norway<\/u>\u00a0noted that the country strongly condemned Hamas\u2019 terrorist attacks, underscoring that Israel has the right to take proportional measures of self-defence.\u00a0It must also take measures to reduce civilian casualties and damage, she added, expressing deep concern for the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and calling for the restoration of water and electricity to Gaza.<\/p>\n

The representative of the\u00a0European Union,<\/u>\u00a0in its capacity as observer, condemned in the strongest possible terms Hamas and it\u2019s brutal and indiscriminate terrorist attacks across Israel, adding that the horrendous death toll of civilians is haunting.\u00a0 The establishment of a two-State solution is indispensable for peace in the region, she said, noting that the bloc remains committed to supporting a just and lasting peace in line with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Ireland<\/u>, aligning with the European Union, expressed grave concern over the situation, reiterating that \u201ceven wars have rules\u201d.\u00a0Ireland calls on all parties to comply with their obligations under international law.\u00a0 Children should not be targeted and indiscriminate attacks should not take place.\u00a0 Further, Ireland supports a ceasefire for the delivery of humanitarian aid.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Lebanon<\/u>\u00a0said that parents in Gaza are writing the name of children on their bodies to identify them if they are killed.\u00a0 She asked, \u201cWhat is the international community waiting for to stop such bloodshed?\u201d.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Kuwait<\/u>\u00a0said \u201cthe time has come to see facts as they are and not as we would like them to be\u201d.\u00a0 Calling into question the Committee\u2019s commitment to protect human rights while violations take place against the children of Palestine, she called on the international community to respect international humanitarian law.<\/p>\n

The representative of\u00a0Egypt<\/u>\u00a0noted that the detention of children is a violation of the right of life.\u00a0 The situation in the region will not end unless the international community acts.\u00a0 He asked how to oblige Israel to comply with all resolutions and how to protect the rights of Palestinian children.<\/p>\n

In response, Ms. ALBANESE said that Special Rapporteurs are accustomed to attracting criticism from those alleged to engage in violations of international law.\u00a0 However, issuing attacks on her character is unproductive, she said\u00a0 \u00a0If the Israeli delegation feels the report is inaccurate, the country can respond to her calls to be granted access to carry out her mandate more fully, she said.<\/p>\n

These tragic circumstances in the Middle East are an opportunity for the international community to act with wisdom and even-handedly, she said.\u00a0 It is possible to stand in solidarity with Israelis and Palestinians at the same time, as they have both experienced incredible losses, she said.\u00a0 States, however, are held to different standards than people.\u00a0 Statements from delegations seem to be out of touch with the reality on the ground, she stressed.\u00a0 While some States express support for Israel, mentions of a single crime committed against the Palestinian people is lacking, she said, noting that, in 15\u00a0days, 5,000\u00a0people have been killed in Gaza, a larger amount than in five\u00a0wars over the past several years.\u00a0 Self-defence is misplaced here, according to international law, she said, noting that it may be used to repel an attack but it ends there.\u00a0 The moment Israel started bombing Gaza indiscriminately, confusing civilians with Hamas, they were committing war crimes by indiscriminately targeting civilians and also tightening a blockade.\u00a0 \u201cThe population of Gaza is bleeding,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

While the framework of self-defence is wrong, international human rights law and the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Charter are the appropriate frameworks here, she said.\u00a0 According to both, a ceasefire is needed immediately, allowing the entrance of humanitarian aid adequate to the needs of the people.\u00a0 The Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ has the capacity to supervise the delivery of aid without creating a security threat.\u00a0 Another thing needed is a protective presence in the occupied Palestinian territories, she said, citing increasing settler violence toward Palestinian civilians.\u00a0The situation will not improve unless international law is applied, she stressed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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SEVENTY-EIGHTH SESSION, 34TH & 35TH MEETINGS (AM & PM) GA\/SHC\/4390 24 OCTOBER 2023 Committee also Highlights Human Rights Violations in Four Countries, Including Iran, Syria The raging war in Gaza is the latest symptom of the international community\u2019s epic failure to address decades of Israel\u2019s illegality and impunity, the expert tasked with monitoring human rights […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":301,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"country":[],"document-category":[1329],"document-source":[1365,1845,6169],"committee-meeting":[],"document-subject":[1769,5449,2005,1741,5200,1785],"entity":[],"document-language":[],"class_list":["post-290140","document","type-document","status-publish","hentry","document-category-press-release","document-source-general-assembly","document-source-general-assembly-third-committee-social-humanitarian-and-cultural","document-source-united-nations-department-of-global-communications","document-subject-armed-conflict","document-subject-assistance-to-the-palestinian-people","document-subject-gaza-strip","document-subject-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law","document-subject-humanitarian-relief","document-subject-israeli-actions-in-occupied-east-jerusalem-and-the-rest-of-the-occupied-palestinian-territory"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/290140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/document"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/301"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/290140\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":290150,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document\/290140\/revisions\/290150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=290140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"country","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/country?post=290140"},{"taxonomy":"document-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-category?post=290140"},{"taxonomy":"document-source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-source?post=290140"},{"taxonomy":"committee-meeting","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/committee-meeting?post=290140"},{"taxonomy":"document-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-subject?post=290140"},{"taxonomy":"entity","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/entity?post=290140"},{"taxonomy":"document-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/unispal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/document-language?post=290140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}