Kuwait City: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned that the crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has reached a dangerous turning point with an unprecedented escalation in grave violations of international humanitarian law since October 7, 2023. "We are at an inflection point in the crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory," Turk said on Wednesday, calling for the world to reflect on how to resolve this decades-old conflict and end the cycle of violence. He made the comments while presenting his special report on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
According to Kuwait News Agency, Turk emphasized that the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has witnessed a sharp rise in violence by the occupying forces against Palestinians, reporting the killing of 601 Palestinians, including 124 children and 11 women, by Israeli forces alongside an increase in attacks by armed settlers who are directly supported by the Israeli military. In his report, Turk highlighted a significant rise in arbitrary administrative detentions, with over 10,091 Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons by the end of October 2024, including journalists, political activists, and human rights defenders.
Turk added that hundreds of detainees have been subjected to torture and ill-treatment, including sexual violence, in blatant violation of international law. He accused the Israeli occupation authorities of deliberately failing to investigate and hold those responsible for these violations accountable. The Rights chief also stated that Israeli military operations have resulted in the deaths of over 48,000 people, most of whom are women and children, with more than 101,641 others injured, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
He further explained that 35,000 children have lost one or both parents and over 1,054 medical staff, 277 UN employees, and 200 journalists have been killed. Turk emphasized that the occupying forces have deliberately targeted medical facilities, destroying or severely damaging dozens of hospitals and health centers, leading to the collapse of the healthcare system. The High Commissioner warned that the violations by Israeli forces may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, highlighting that the indiscriminate attacks on civilians, the systematic destruction of infrastructure, and deliberate starvation are severe breaches of the Geneva Conventions.
He stressed that if these acts were part of a large-scale or systematic attack against civilians based on state policy, they could constitute crimes against humanity. He explained that according to international law, if any of these acts were committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnical, or religious group, they could be considered genocide. Turk called for an immediate ceasefire, full compliance with international law, and for the occupying authorities to allow displaced persons to return to their homes and ensure immediate protection for civilians, including journalists and humanitarian workers.
He called on Israeli Forces to respect the International Court of Justice's decisions on temporary measures related to the Convention on the Prevention of Genocide and end the occupation of the Palestinian territory. Turk urged the international community to exert pressure on all parties to prevent further violations, ensure accountability, and not provide any support that could prolong the violations. He also called on States for cooperation with the International Criminal Court to prosecute those responsible for international crimes under universal jurisdiction.
Turk emphasized the need for the occupying entity to cooperate with the UN and allow human rights monitors to enter the occupied Palestinian territories. He also urged the UN Human Rights Council and the international community to take urgent steps to halt the violations and ensure accountability for all parties, calling for justice for the Palestinian people. As Turk pointed out, "Any plans for a better future must deal with the past, so accountability and justice for violations are crucial."