Gaza update and Israeli settlement report: OHCHR
/
2:10
/
MP4
/
159.5 MB

Edited News | OHCHR

Gaza update and Israeli settlement report: OHCHR

“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

  1. Exterior medium shot: UN flag alley at the United Nations Office in Geneva
  2. Wide shot: Spokespersons at the podium and journalists in Press briefing room
  3. 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.”
  4. Medium shot: Journalists in press room with speaker at podium
  5. 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.”
  6. Medium shot: UN staff working in press room booths
  7. 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.”
  1. Wide shot: Journalists in press room with speaker on screen and spokesperson at the podium
  2. 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.”
  3. Medium shot: Spokespersons at the podium with speaker on screen
  4. 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.”
  5. Close up: Camerawoman filming
  6. Close up: Journalist listening
  7. Wide shot: Journalists in press room


Audio Files 1
Download Gaza update and Israeli settlement report: OHCHR (Edited Story)
Download

Similar Stories

DRC  UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu   Ravina Shamdasani UN Human Rights Spokesperson

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

DRC UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu Ravina Shamdasani UN Human Rights Spokesperson ENG FRA

A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025 ENG FRA

As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following comment on the on-going presidential election process in Cameroon at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva. 

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office released a new report on Myanmar, describing death, destruction and desperation which reflect atrocities committed in 2017. 

Afghanistan earthquake update OCHA - IFRC - UNHCR

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR

Afghanistan earthquake update OCHA - IFRC - UNHCR ENG FRA

Afghanistan: Humanitarians scramble to reach survivors of deadly quake; response at ‘breaking point’

In remote eastern Afghanistan, aid workers are racing to assist survivors of Sunday’s devastating earthquake as the death toll continues to climb, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.

Gaza - Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA

Gaza - Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA ENG FRA

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, repeated his urgent call for a ceasefire in Gaza on Friday, amid increased military Israeli activity in the enclave’s largest city.

Gaza update - OCHA WHO 29 August 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Gaza update - OCHA WHO 29 August 2025 ENG FRA

Amid reports of increased Israeli military operations across Gaza City on Friday, UN aid agencies repeated urgent warnings of ongoing famine and a likely rise in preventable disease, linked to the dire living conditions in the war-shattered enclave.

OHCHR-Ravina Shamdasani: increasing executions in Iran

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

OHCHR-Ravina Shamdasani: increasing executions in Iran ENG FRA

UN calls for Iran to halt executions and move towards ending the death penalty.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan on Killing of Journalists in Gaza

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al Kheetan on Killing of Journalists in Gaza ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan made the following comment on the killing of journalists in Gaza at the bi-weekly press briefing.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan on “rotation” practice by Egyptian Government

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan on “rotation” practice by Egyptian Government ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday called on Egyptian authorities to end the practice known as “rotation”, which allows Government critics to be held arbitrarily and for prolonged periods.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Sudan attacks

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Sudan attacks ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on deadly attacks by the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan 

Gaza City famine – UN OCHA, WFP, WHO, OHCHR 22 August 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , OHCHR , UNITED NATIONS , WFP , WHO

Gaza City famine – UN OCHA, WFP, WHO, OHCHR 22 August 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: Famine “irrefutably” confirmed, UN humanitarians unite in plea for aid access

Famine has been confirmed in Gaza Governorate by the world’s top authority on food security and will spread further within the Strip unless fighting stops and much more aid is allowed in, UN humanitarians said on Friday.