Geneva, June 4, 2024 – The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has issued a stark call for an end to the killings in the West Bank by Israeli forces. This appeal comes after the recent deaths of Palestinian teenagers and a surge in fatalities in the region.
According to the UN Human Rights Office, 16-year-old Ahmed Ashraf Hamidat was shot dead by Israeli forces on Saturday near the Aqabat Jaber refugee camp in Jericho. Seventeen-year-old Mohammed Musa Al Bitar was critically wounded in the same incident and succumbed to his injuries the following day. These deaths, along with the killing of four more Palestinians by Israeli forces on Monday, bring the total number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank to 505 since October 7.
Turk expressed his deep concern over the escalating violence, stating, “As if the tragic events in Israel and Gaza over the past eight months were not enough, the people of the occupied West Bank are also being subjected to unprecedented bloodshed. It is unfathomable that so many lives have been taken in such a wanton fashion.”
He condemned the killings, widespread destruction, and human rights violations, urging Israel to adopt and enforce rules of engagement that align with international human rights norms. Turk also called for thorough, independent investigations into allegations of unlawful killings and accountability for those responsible.
The UN Human Rights Office highlighted that the Israeli Security Forces (ISF) frequently use lethal force as a first response against Palestinian protesters who do not pose an imminent threat to life. The office’s investigations suggest a pattern of intentional killings and systematic denial of medical assistance to those critically injured.
“Fatality verification and in-depth monitoring of over 80 cases by the UN Human Rights Office indicates consistent violations of international human rights law on the use of force by the ISF,” said Turk. He added that these actions show “the systematic denial or delaying of medical assistance to those critically injured.”
Since October 7, the Israeli army has conducted at least 29 military operations in the West Bank, involving airstrikes and ground-to-ground missile attacks on refugee camps and other densely populated areas. This escalation follows a deadly military offensive against the Gaza Strip after an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
The International Court of Justice has accused Israel of genocide and recently ordered Tel Aviv to halt its operation in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians have sought refuge from the ongoing conflict.–News Desk