Hearing of human rights abuses on occupied Palestinian territory begins
GENEVA (AA) – A former UN human rights chief on Monday opened a four-day Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel.
The commission, established by the UN Human Rights Council in May 2021, will investigate all alleged violations of international humanitarian law and all violations and abuses of international human rights law in those territories, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in opening remarks made remotely.
The UN-sanctioned body will look into all underlying root causes of recurrent tensions, instability, and protraction of the conflict.
These include systematic discrimination and repression based on national, ethnic, racial, or religious identity.
“The commission reports to the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly on an annual basis,” said Pillay, a former South African judge.
The commission has already released two reports.
The first was presented before the Human Rights Council this June, and the second was released 10 days ago.
The hearings will examine the closure orders and Israel’s terrorism designation of several Palestinian nongovernmental organizations.
It will investigate the events surrounding the West Bank killing this May of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
UN Human Rights Council spokesperson Rolando Gomez said at a Friday UN press conference that public hearings are seeking clarity on the issues and that both Israelis and Palestinians will testify.
“This current commission of inquiry is unique in that it is looking into human rights abuse and violations, alleged human rights abuse, and violations in both the occupied Palestinian territory and in Israel,” said Gomez.
“And they are, of course, impartial, independent investigators. So, any allegations of bias are false. They are independent and impartial and will be looking at both sides,” he said.
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