The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
“UN rights office warns any ground assault on Rafah would ‘heighten risk of further atrocity crimes’.”
The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) said on Friday that it fears that the already catastrophic situation in the Palestinian enclave “may slide deeper into the abyss” should Israel launch its threatened military offensive in Gaza’s border town of Rafah.
“Any ground assault on Rafah would incur massive loss of life and would heighten the risk of further atrocity crimes,” said Jeremy Laurence, OHCHR’s spokesperson when briefing reporters at the United Nations in Geneva. “This must not be allowed to happen.”
In Rafah, 1,5 million people have been displaced in deplorable, subhuman conditions, said Mr. Laurence. “We fear that this already catastrophic situation may slide deeper into the abyss, as many Palestinians mark the holy month of Ramadan, a period that is meant to honor peace and tolerance.”
OHCHR is also concerned about further Israeli restrictions to grant Palestinians access to East Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan which commences on Sunday and which could further inflame tensions.
As the Gaza conflict enters on Friday its sixth month, Mr. Laurence stressed that “since the 7th of October, parties to this conflict have paid little heed to international law that protects human rights and governs the conduct of hostilities. This has been a stain on the collective conscience of humanity.”
The Human Rights Office repeated that there must be an immediate end to this conflict, the killing and destruction must stop. It also reminded that the hostages, who have now endured over 150 days of suffering and torment, must be released unconditionally, and returned to their families.
On Friday, the UN Human Rights Office published a report on the Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank that detailed the drastic acceleration in settlement buildings as an exacerbating long-standing pattern of oppression, violence and discrimination against Palestinians.
“The report also highlights the dramatic increase in the intensity, severity and regularity of Israeli settler and state violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, particularly since 7th October 2023,” said Ajith Sunghay, head of OHCHR’s Office for the occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). “This violence is accelerating Palestinians displacement from their land”.
The report finds that the current Israeli Government's policies “appear aligned, to an unprecedented extent, with the goals of the Israeli settler movement to expand long-term control over the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and to steadily integrate this occupied territory into the State of Israel.”
The report which covers the period from 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023 concluded that the size of existing Israeli settlements has expanded markedly. About 24,300 housing units within existing Israeli settlements in the West Bank were advanced during this period, the highest on record since monitoring began in 2017. This included approximately 9,670 units in East Jerusalem.
“We remind Israel that the transfer of population of an occupying power into occupied territory, or the forcible transfer of the population within or from occupied territory, or the annexation of territory by use of force are all strictly prohibited. Officials and others involved in such conduct risk individual criminal liability,” noted Ajith Sunghay.
According to reports, Israel plans to build a further 3,476 settler homes in the illegal settlements of Maale Adumim, Efrat and Kedar in further violation of international law.
-ends-
STORY: Gaza update and Israeli settlement report – OHCHR
TRT: 2:10”
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 8 March 2024 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Exterior medium shot: UN flag alley at the United Nations Office in Geneva
- Wide shot: Spokespersons at the podium and journalists in Press briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): “We fear that this already catastrophic situation may slide deeper into the abyss, as many Palestinians mark the holy month of Ramadan, a period that is meant to honor peace and tolerance.”
- Medium shot: Journalists in press room with speaker at podium
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): “Any ground assault on Rafah would incur massive loss of life and would heighten the risk of further atrocity crimes. This must not be allowed to happen.”
- Medium shot: UN staff working in press room booths
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): “Since the 7th of October, parties to this conflict have paid little heed to international law that protects human rights and governs the conduct of hostilities. This has been a stain on the collective conscience of humanity.”
- Wide shot: Journalists in press room with speaker on screen and spokesperson at the podium
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Ajith Sunghay, Head of OHCHR’s Office for the OPT (from East Jerusalem): “The report also highlights the dramatic increase in the intensity, severity and regularity of Israeli settler and state violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, particularly since 7th October 2023. This violence is accelerating Palestinians displacement from their land.”
- Medium shot: Spokespersons at the podium with speaker on screen
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Ajith Sunghay, Head of OHCHR’s Office for the OPT (from East Jerusalem): “We remind Israel that the transfer of population of an occupying power into occupied territory, or the forcible transfer of the population within or from occupied territory, or the annexation of territory by use of force are all strictly prohibited. Officials and others involved in such conduct risk individual criminal liability.”
- Close up: Camerawoman filming
- Close up: Journalist listening
- Wide shot: Journalists in press room
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
DRC faces a severe humanitarian crisis with 25M in need and rising conflict-related issues.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA
A gimmer of good news emerged from Gaza on Tuesday as patients returned to at a newly reopened UN health centre in Khan Younis, six months after it was severely damaged and forced to close by heavy fighting, the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN condemns attacks on Kyiv hospitals, calls for immediate action to protect civilians.
1
1
2
Edited News | WHO
In Gaza, soaring temperatures, hunger and unsanitary conditions present an ever more deadly threat to a population under constant attack, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , WMO , IFRC
Hurricane Beryl smashes into Caribbean, turns sights on Mexico As Hurricane Beryl’s destructive path shifted to Mexico on Friday after roiling the Caribbean, UN agencies and partners said that the emergency response was underway, before warning that a very long and damaging hurricane season looks increasingly likely.
1
1
2
Edited News | IOM , mcc , UNHCR
Refugees and migrants continue to face extreme forms of violence, exploitation and death on sea and on land across Africa as they attempt to leave the continent, UN agencies said on Friday, in an appeal to border authorities to do more to protect them.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk at the 56th Human Rigths Council, made the following update on the situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , WHO
New evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army for areas in southern Gaza are expected to impact 250,000 people, including eastern Khan Younis and Rafah, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , WHO
Gaza: People are desperate, they need everything, says UN aid agency Panic and desperation now grip ordinary Gazans struggling to survive, UN humanitarians said on Friday, amid fuel shortages of fuel and dwindling supplies that have prevented aid teams from doing their job.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
UN aid teams and partner organizations remain deeply committed to delivering lifesaving supplies into Gaza, despite the increasing dangers of working there, the Organization’s top aid official said on Wednesday.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | UNRWA
Every day in Gaza 10 children lose one or both legs, says top UN aid official There’s been no let-up in the terrible human cost of the war in Gaza where 10 children lose one or both legs every day, amid ongoing Israeli bombardment and renewed fears of famine, a top UN aid official said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
A UN humanitarian freshly back from Gaza described on Tuesday seeing families dig makeshift septic tanks with spoons and shell-shocked toddlers who lost limbs under Israeli bombing, amid continuing obstacles to aid delivery.