The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
UN rights office deeply concerned at Palestinian escalation of violence
The UN rights office, OHCHR, appealed for “a redoubling of efforts to restore calm” on Tuesday in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, after days of clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli security forces that have marked a dramatic escalation of tensions in the region.
The development echoes deep concerns expressed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and other senior UN officials over the confrontations which also prompted an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday.
“We are deeply concerned at the escalation of violence in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel in the past days,” said Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. “According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, 915 Palestinians were injured between 7 and 10 May in East Jerusalem, and over 200 in the West Bank, most by Israeli security forces.”
Mr. Colville noted that Palestinian armed groups had also launched “some 250 rockets towards Israel in the past 24 hours” with at least 17 Israeli civilians reportedly injured.
This use of indiscriminate weapons “is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law and must stop immediately”, the OHCHR official said.
Airstrikes had been carried out in Gaza by Israeli Defense Forces, Mr Colville continued, citing the Gaza authorities which claimed that 24 Palestinians, including nine children and one woman, have been killed and 103 injured.
The development follows protests in Jerusalem at the potential eviction of Palestinian families, as the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end and as families break their daily fast with their evening meal, or iftar.
“Certainly, what we are seeing is extremely worrying and certainly when you see the treatment to some of the protesters and even people who weren’t protesting,” said Mr Colville. “People who were simply praying or people who were having their iftar, who’ve been subjected to violence or completely unprovoked responses by the security forces.”
Asked by journalists at a regular UN Geneva briefing about whether the response of the Israeli security forces had been proportionate, the OHCHR spokesperson noted that “in some instances, particularly when the police entered the Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount compound using tear gas, stun grenades, sponge-tipped bullets, physical force and in some cases that appeared unwarranted, disproportionated or indiscriminate.”
ends
STORY: Occupied Palestinian Territory - OHCHR
TRT: 01 min 59s
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 11 MAY 2021 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Exterior wide shot, Palais des Nations flag alley, nations’ flags flying.
- Wide shot, podium with speakers in a near-empty Room XIV in line with COVID-19 distancing measures, Palais des Nations.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR: “We are deeply concerned at the escalation of violence in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel in the past few days.”
- Medium shot, attendee taking notes in foreground and attendees sitting, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR: “According to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, 915 Palestinians were injured between 7 and 10 May in East Jerusalem, and over 200 in the West Bank, most by Israeli security forces.”
- Medium shot, attendee sitting in front of laptop, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR: “Palestinian armed groups have launched some 250 rockets towards Israel in the past 24 hours, reportedly injuring at least 17 Israeli citizens. The use of indiscriminate weapons, such as the rockets being fired into Israel, is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law and must stop immediately.”
- Medium shot, OHCHR spokesperson speaking, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR: “Certainly, what we are seeing is extremely worrying and certainly when you see the treatment to some of the protesters and even people who weren’t protesting, people who were simply praying or people who were having their iftar, who’ve been subjected to violence or completely unprovoked responses by the security forces.”
- Medium shot, attendee scrolling his phone, Room XIV, Palais des Nations
- SOUNDBITE (English) — Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR: “In some instances, particularly when the police entered the Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount compound using tear gas, stun grenades, sponge-tipped bullets, physical force and in some cases that appeared unwarranted, disproportionated or indiscriminate.”
- Wide shot, podium with speakers to rear, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- Medium shot, attendee with mask and headphones, Room XIV, Palais des Nations.
- Wide shot, seats in near-empty Room XIV in line with COVID-19 distancing measures, Palais des Nations.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
Institutionalised forced labour by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea constitutes grave violations of human rights – UN report
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Time is running out for starving civilians in Sudan, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday, while talks involving the country’s warring parties continue in Geneva this week.
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.