UN Human Rights Council – Special session to address the grave human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories including East Jerusalem
May 2021
Delivered by Judit Rosell
Thank you, Madame President.
CIVICUS welcomes the due attention given through this special session. The violence we have witnessed over the last weeks is harrowing.
Among numerous violations, attacks against democratic freedoms have severely escalated. Israeli security forces have violently repressed Palestinian demonstrations inside the Green Line. Since 10 May, thousands of Palestinian citizens of Israel have come out to protest evictions in Sheikh Jarrah, the use of extreme violence on worshippers and protestors by police, and Israeli military attacks in Gaza. Police responded with arbitrary arrests of over 1,000 Palestinians. High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet highlighted “reports of excessive and discriminatory use of force by police against Palestinian citizens of Israel.”
Israel further violently suppressed demonstrations in other parts of the West Bank calling for an end to oppression, including by shooting live ammunition at demonstrators. 14 Palestinian protesters were killed between 14 and 18 May. Thousands more have been injured.
We are also seriously alarmed about targeting of media outlets and of Palestinian journalists throughout Israel’s military offensive including bombing the Al-Shorouk Tower and the Al-Jawhara tower, which together host the offices and headquarters of 28 media institutions and NGOs. Media remains an integral contributor of a functioning democracy.
Israel’s presence on the agenda of the Human Rights Council has so far proved insufficient to furthering accountability or to preventing grave violations against Palestinian people. Overall, 242 Palestinians have been killed since 10 May. This escalation over the last weeks more than warrants a commission of inquiry in order to monitor, document and report on all violations of human rights and humanitarian law, including restrictions to civic space in the context of escalating attacks against Palestinians.
Thank you.
