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Human Rights Chief on Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza - Security Council Briefing (23 July 2018)

271 views · Published 23 July 2018 · 12:08 · Indexed 21 September 2026

Channel: United Nations · 2018 · News & Politics

Statement by Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at 390th Meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, said that “very few investigations” of Israeli Defence Forces who commit abuses against Palestinians ever occur, and “in the rare cases where an investigation has led to an indictment, the sentence has been extremely lenient in line with the gravity of the crime committed.”

Addressing a meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People via teleconference from Geneva, Zeid said “although Israel has put in place a number of accountability mechanisms, there are serious concerns that this are not in compliance with the international standards of independence, impartiality, and effectiveness.”

On last week’s adoption by the Israeli Knesset of the Nation State Basic Law, The High Commissioner said it “anchors inherent discrimination against non-Jewish communities, most notably the Arab citizens of Israel and residents of occupied East Jerusalem” and “could also further inflame tensions.”

On the same subject, Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said that “to legislate privileges and special rights to those who belong to a certain faith versus others who belong to other nationality and believe in different religions, is nothing but a racist legislation and another element of moving in the direction of apartheid.”

On 30 March this year, Palestinians in Gaza – controlled by Hamas, a militant Palestinian faction – started a mass protest against a blockade of the enclave imposed by Israel since the early 1990’s. The confrontation between the sides has since escalated.

Since last Monday, the Israeli authorities have prohibited the entry of fuel into Gaza as part of tightened import and export restrictions, reportedly in response to the launch of incendiary kites from Gaza into Israel, which has caused extensive property damage.

The Knesset adopted the Nation State Basic Law, which enshrines Israel as the national home of the Jewish people, by 62 votes to 55, with two abstentions.   
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Read Full Statement: https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23394&LangID=E

Human Rights Chief on Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza - Security Council Briefing (23 July 2018)

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