New Human Rights Report

Israel should do what was called for by Ms. Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights : a) to stop its illegal expansion of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories; b) ease of restriction and blockade on Gaza; c) halt evictions and demolition of Palestinian homes; and d) address impunity of Jewish settler violence. She introduced the 34 pages Human Rights Special Committee Report, which was released on 14 August, highlighting the significant evidence of serious violations of international humanitarian law by the Israeli forces between 27 December 2008 to 18 January 2009, during which the Israeli military conducted an offensive operation on the Gaza Strip violating the international law. Ms. Pillay explained that human rights violations included torture, extra-judicial execution, forced eviction, arbitrary detention, home demolition and other violence and restrictions on freedom of movement and expressions. She also expressed her gravely concerned that Israel has not yet complied with the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Wall that Israel built within the Occupied Palestinian Territories “to keep out suicide bombers”. During those 22 days of military action, many Palestinians have had their human rights violated. Up to 1,400 Palestinian children, women and men were killed by the Israeli forces. Although findings of the UN Human Rights Council are not binding, I want to commend the efforts of the UN Human Rights Council , the Special Committeemembers, and the High Commissioner for Human Rights, in their determination in bringing out this Report, the Violations of Human Rights of the Palestinian People by the Occupying Power, Israel. This report will be sent to the next UN General Assembly meeting in New York.