UN committee reminds states of their obligations amid delay in Gaza resolution

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on Thursday reminded states of their obligations to prevent “crimes against humanity and genocide” amid a delay in voting on the Gaza resolution at the UN Security Council.

In a statement, the committee "warned of hate speech and dehumanising discourse targeted at Palestinians, raising severe concerns regarding Israel’s and other State parties’ obligation to prevent crimes against humanity and genocide."

In a decision adopted earlier in the day, the committee said it is "gravely concerned" about the resumption of the brutal hostilities in the besieged Palestinian enclave after a seven-day pause.

Additionally, the committee also “raised the alarm” on the deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, including the “increased use of deadly force, settler violence, and arbitrary arrest and detention,” the statement said.

It also urged an "immediate and sustained" cease-fire in Gaza.

"Highly alarmed by the killing of at least 136 UN staff, the committee asked Israel to grant access to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to document significant violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including those committed by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups," the statement said.

It also called on all states to bring to justice without delay those responsible for “war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as other international crimes in the ongoing armed conflicts.”

Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, killing nearly 20,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring more than 52,000 others, according to health authorities in the enclave.

Besides the casualties in Gaza, there has been widespread destruction of homes and other infrastructure, shortage of food, water and medicines.

Israel says 1,200 people were killed in Oct. 7 incursion by Hamas.