UN rights chief warns of 'unprecedented' violations in occupied Palestine, calls for accountability

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) - The UN human rights chief on Wednesday warned of an "unprecedented disregard" for international humanitarian law in Gaza and the West Bank, urging accountability.

Sharing his annual report on the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, Volker Turk said the situation in Gaza has reached an "inflection point," highlighting the immense human cost of the war and the failure to hold perpetrators accountable.

"A fragile ceasefire is allowing the people of Gaza to breathe, Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees to be released, and lifesaving humanitarian aid to be delivered," Turk said. However, he stressed that any lasting solution must include justice for past violations.

Turk condemned both Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and Israel's subsequent military response, saying: "Nothing justifies the appalling manner in which Israel has conducted its military operations in Gaza, which consistently breached fundamental principles of international humanitarian law," and caused over 48,000 deaths, mostly women and children, and the destruction of two-thirds of essential infrastructure.

In the West Bank, he said, Israeli forces have escalated the use of "unnecessary and disproportionate force," destroying refugee camps, restricting movement, and displacing tens of thousands. He also warned of a severe crackdown on civic space, particularly against human rights defenders.

The human rights chief raised concerns about war crimes, saying: "Israel’s means and methods of warfare have caused staggering levels of casualties and destruction, raising concerns over the commission of war crimes and other possible atrocity crimes."

He expressed doubts about Israel’s willingness to ensure accountability, noting the lack of meaningful investigations. "There has been a limited number of investigations and indictments by the Israeli authorities, for example, for abuse of detainees."

"There are serious doubts about the capacity and will of the Israeli justice system to deliver full accountability, in line with international standards, notably in relation to the unlawful killing of Palestinians in Gaza or in the West Bank," he added.

Regarding the other violations, he said: "Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups have taken, held, and tortured hostages in Gaza, and have indiscriminately fired projectiles into Israeli territory, amounting to war crimes."

Turk called for an independent investigation into all violations and reiterated the need for an end to Israel's "unlawful presence" in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in line with a ruling by the International Court of Justice.

"The tragic record of this conflict, and of so many other conflicts, shows clearly how impunity begets more violence," he said, urging the international community to ensure justice for victims on all sides.

"We urgently need an end to the conflict, the unconditional freeing of all hostages, the release of arbitrarily held detainees, and an end, as rapidly as possible, to Israel’s unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as affirmed by the International Court of Justice," he said.