“These recent killings and the violence along with the inflammatory rhetoric“They only serve to drive Israelis and Palestinians even deeper into the abyss,” he said High Commissioner for Human Rights, as his office warned of the “horrific effects of the escalation on both Palestinians and Israelis” before calling for an immediate end to the bloodshed.
Mr Türk’s comments followed remarks by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who on Thursday condemned “all acts of violence against civilians” in the occupied Palestinian territories and lamented the loss of life.
victims of refugee camps
Echoing Mr Guterres’ deep concerns over an Israeli military attack on the Jenin refugee camp in the northern West Bank on Monday that killed at least seven Palestinians, including a boy and a girl, the UN human rights official said that the use of airstrikes “more generally associated with the conduct of armed hostilities instead of a criminal prosecution”.
Israeli attack helicopters were reportedly used in the area for the first time since the early 2000s to rescue injured soldiers while a long firefight raged.
Mr. Türk added that further reports emerged on Wednesday evening of an Israeli military drone strike near Jenin in which three suspected Palestinian militants were killed.
“Israel urgently needs to change its policies and actions in the West Bank in accordance with international human rights standards, including protection of and respect for the right to life,” stressed the High Commissioner.
After the raid on Jenin, Mr. Türk’s office said that this was the case “Appalled” that some Palestinians celebrated the killing of four Israeli settlers – allegedly including a 17-year-old boy – by two armed Palestinian men near the municipality of Eli in the occupied West Bank.
vicious circle
highlighting the tinderbox situation, OHCHR Spokesman Jeremy Laurence said several Palestinian communities have reportedly done so was attacked by Israeli settlersamid “confrontations between Israeli settlers, escorted by Israeli security forces, and Palestinians.”
Israeli security forces have killed at least 126 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, so far this year, according to the UN legal office OHCHR. Among them were 21 boys and one girl.
Compared to last year, 155 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the highest number in 17 years.
Data from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights shows that 24 Israelis were killed in Israel and the occupied West Bank last year – “the highest number of Israelis killed last year since 2016”.
“For this violence to end, the occupation must end‘ said Mr Turk. “On all sides, the people with political power know this and must take immediate steps to make this a reality.”
