Geneva: Volker Turk, UN Human Rights Chief, has condemned Israel’s latest actions in the occupied West Bank. Turk said that the strong acceleration in settlement building would aggravate long-standing patterns of intimidation, violence and discrimination against Palestinians.
Turk stated that, “Reports this week that Israel plans to build a further 3,476 settler homes in Maale Adumim, Efrat and Kedar fly in the face of international law.”
In a report to the Human Rights Council, Turk noted that the establishment and resumed growth of settlements amounted to Israel moving its civilian population into regions it occupies, which amounted to a war offence under international law.
According to the report, between November 2022 and October 2023, the size of existing Israeli settlements grew enormously. During the period, about 24,300 housing units were built in existing Israeli settlements in the West Bank, the highest number recorded since monitoring began in 2017. The number of units in East Jerusalem is approximately 9,670.
The report found that the policies of the current Israeli government are remarkably aligned with the goals of the Israeli settlement movement to extend long-term power in the West Bank.
“They also run counter to the views of a broad range of States laid out during hearings just two weeks ago at the International Court of Justice,” the High Commissioner said, referring to the hearings examining the legal consequences of Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Referring to the hearings examining the legal consequences of Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the High Commissioner remarked that, “They also run counter to the views of a broad range of States laid out during hearings just two weeks ago at the International Court of Justice.”
Along with the exile of Palestinians via Israeli settlement and state violence, the establishment and continued elaboration of illegal Israeli settlements arises through pushed evictions, non-issuance of building permits, home demolitions, and movement restrictions on Palestinians.
Turk commented that, “The West Bank is already in crisis. Yet, settler violence and settlement-related violations have reached shocking new levels, and risk eliminating any practical possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian State.”
The report underscores the surprising growth in the intensity, severity and regularity of Israeli settler and state roughness against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, particularly since October 2023, which is revving Palestinians’ eviction from their land.
Since October 7, the UN human rights office recorded dozens of issues of settlers wearing Israeli military uniforms, carrying military rifles and harassing and attacking Palestinians, the report said. These growths further obscured the line between settler violence and state violence, including brutality with the stated purpose of forcibly moving Palestinians from their land, it cited.
Turk further added that, “Israel’s actions against the Palestinian population must cease immediately. The only way forward is to find a viable political solution that finally ends the occupation, establishes an independent Palestinian state and guarantees the realization of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people.”
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