The Arab Observatory for Human Rights (AOHR) affiliated to the Arab Parliament, welcomed the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on ensuring accountability and justice for all violations of international law in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.
The AOHR emphasized in a statement that the Israeli occupation authorities, the “occupying power”, have consistently practised flagrant violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites, and against the Palestinian people by killing hundreds with live bullets, artillery and rocket fire, as well as the displacement of hundreds and the construction of settlements, striking against the wall all human and international values and norms, which is an unacceptable prejudice to the norms of international humanitarian law, as well as obstructing any real attempts to build a lasting and just peace in a conflict ridden region and a very challenging world.
The AOHR stressed the need for the international community, notably the Security Council and the high contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to fulfill their obligations and to use all means and measures provided by international law to hold the occupying power of Israel accountable under international law, and to assume its responsibilities towards the systematic practices of the Israeli occupation, and to condemn the ongoing tactics to suppress the freedoms of the Palestinian people and silence voices opposing the occupation and the policies of racial discrimination against the Palestinian people. Also stressed that the international community must take all necessary measures to support and protect the Palestinian people.
The AOHR expressed concern regarding the escalation of Israeli occupation violations against Palestinians, which have increased in recent months in a way that alarms the situation, threatens security and stability, and obstructs any serious attempts to achieve a just peace and the viability of the peace process.