UN human rights chief calls for end to killings in west bank by Israeli forces
(MENAFN) The United Nations' human rights chief issued a fervent plea on Tuesday, urging an immediate halt to the killings perpetrated by Israeli forces in the West Bank. The call for action follows the tragic deaths of 16-year-old Ahmed Ashraf Hamidat and 17-year-old Mohammed Musa Al Bitar near Aqabat Jaber refugee camp in Jericho on Saturday. Despite efforts to save Al Bitar, he succumbed to his injuries the following day, according to reports from the human rights office.
These recent fatalities, compounded by the killings of four additional Palestinians by the Israeli army on Monday, have brought the total number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank to a staggering 505 since October 7th.
Expressing profound dismay at the ongoing bloodshed, Volker Turk, the UN human rights chief, denounced the relentless violence plaguing the occupied West Bank. He lamented the loss of life and called the situation "unfathomable," particularly in the wake of previous tragedies in Israel and Gaza over the past eight months.
Turk underscored the imperative for an immediate cessation of the killing, destruction, and widespread human rights violations, emphasizing that such actions are utterly unacceptable. He urged Israel to not only adopt but vigorously enforce rules of engagement that align fully with applicable human rights norms and standards.
The UN official stressed the critical importance of thorough and independent investigations into any allegations of unlawful killings, insisting that those found responsible must be held accountable for their actions. Highlighting the prevalence of impunity for such crimes in the occupied West Bank, Turk warned of the dangerous cycle perpetuated by the lack of accountability, which he fears could lead to further unlawful killings by the Israeli Security Forces (ISF).
In his impassioned appeal, Turk called for an end to the pervasive impunity that has marred the region for far too long, asserting that accountability is paramount in preventing future atrocities and fostering a just and peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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