UN ‘extremely alarmed’ by deteriorating human rights situation in occupied West Bank
-GENEVA (AA) – The UN has said that it is “extremely alarmed” by the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied West Bank, where dozens have been killed, with rising cases of violence by Israeli settlers and arbitrary arrests of Palestinians.
“Since October 7, our office has received reports that 69 Palestinians, including at least 15 children and one woman, have been killed by Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank. Yesterday, 14 Palestinians were reportedly killed, most of them in a drone strike,” UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told a press conference in Geneva.
Underlining that settler violence “has also further increased,” Shamdasani said six Palestinians have been killed by armed Israeli settlers, and a number of Palestinian communities have been forced from their land.
The number of arbitrary arrests of West Bank Palestinians and Arab Israelis in Israel, including Palestinian activists and workers formerly employed in Israel has risen, along with reports of ill-treatment and lack of due process, she added.
She urged: “This must cease.”
Shamdasani stressed that over the last two weeks, “many Palestinians in the West Bank have been denied freedom of movement, including being prevented from reaching hospitals to receive life-saving care.”
“Restrictions on freedom of movement must be necessary and proportionate to achieve a legitimate aim,” she added.
– Airstrike on church
Asked about a recent Israeli attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza, Shamdasani said that the Human Rights Office is aware of it and that they condemn any attack on civilian infrastructures, the destruction of protected buildings, and the death and injury of civilians.
“It is unclear exactly what happened and how it happened, but we are looking into it,” she said.
The Israeli army admitted that a church in Gaza suffered damage when its forces targeted a site it said was “close to” a Hamas commander in Gaza.
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