International UN experts condemn attacks on Gaza shelters and West Bank displacement

UN Experts Detail Incidents of Violence Against Displaced Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank

A statement issued by the UN Human Rights Council (OHCHR) has reiterated calls for an end to Israeli attacks on displaced Palestinians in Gaza and forced displacement measures in the occupied West Bank. The statement detailed several incidents in March, including Israeli air strikes that set tents of displaced Palestinians in Gaza on fire, resulting in fatalities.

According to the panel, these actions constitute a grave breach of international humanitarian law. The experts noted that civilians in tents and makeshift shelters face significant health risks, including hunger, freezing temperatures, flooding, and a lack of basic services. Women and children bear a disproportionate share of deprivation.

The statement also criticized the sharp escalation in forced displacement across the occupied West Bank, driven by the Israeli army and settler activity. This includes daily attacks resulting in fatalities, injuries, and harassment of women and children, as well as widespread destruction of Palestinian homes, farmland, and livelihoods.

According to a report by the UN Human Rights Office, more than 36,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced amid expanding illegal settlement activity. The experts urged Israel to end all ongoing forced displacement in the West Bank and facilitate the safe return of displaced Palestinians.

The panel of 13 experts includes special rapporteurs on various human rights issues, including Francesca Albanese, Paula Gaviria Betancur, Michael Fakhri, and Reem Alsalem. They called on states to remember their legal obligations, call for investigations, and avoid assisting Israel while its occupation of Palestinian territory continues without accountability.

The UN Human Rights Council has previously expressed concerns about the situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The experts’ statement is part of ongoing efforts to address these issues and promote human rights in the region.

Source: Al Jazeera