Review of the Human Rights Situation in Palestine and Occupied Territories

On the sidelines of the 54th session of the Human Rights Council, the ODVV took a look at the meeting on the human rights situation in Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories as follows:
- on the 4 October session, the Human Rights Council dealt with Item 7 of its working agenda on the human rights situation in Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories. This meeting took place while the Council president reassured that Israel is not participating.
- Denial of right to self-determination, extrajudicial killings, restrictions on freedom of movement and association, illegal settlements constructions, are all clear aspects of violation of Palestinians’ human rights.
- As well as aggression and attacks against Palestinian villages and towns by Israel, Palestinian civilians, including children, are threatened by daily killings.
- Forced evictions and displacement of many Palestinians in East Jerusalem is very important and can turn into the war crime of forced movement. Exploitation, confiscation, demolition of homes and forced displacement are all illegal according to the Fourth Geneva Convention.
- The continuation of policies and settlements constructions on the occupied Syrian Golan Heights (such as announced plans at the end of 2021 for the creation of new settlements and the doubling of the settlers’ population in this region in the last five years) is condemned.
- The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights must set necessary resources and supports for an investigation commission and special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Occupied Palestinian Territories.
- States’ commitment to boost efforts such as active participation in international initiatives with the aim of ending the Israel’s illegal occupation is reiterated.
- Today there are more than 6 million refugees from Palestine and thousands have been killed by Israel. Civilians, journalists and health workers are targeted and 248 people have been killed alone this year. The international community must take on historic and legal responsibility to put an end to the occupation.
- Syria has also highlighted the lengthy exploitation based on Apartheid which violate all developed norms in international human rights and humanitarian law. Settlements construction and the main principle of the unacceptability of forced occupation of land through the creation of a forced environment (such as stealing natural resources, displacement, fear and crackdown) have been designed to strengthen the occupation. The occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights violate international law and are seen as war crimes.