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 | WFP
Gaza: One million receive food parcels as humanitarians race to ‘push back hunger’
Food is slowly returning to the shelves in Gaza amid “apocalyptic scenes” but supplies are still desperately inadequate, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday, as they issued fresh calls for wider access and continued financial support.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango today told the bi-weekly UN press briefing in Geneva of more details that are emerging on the atrocities committed in El Fasher, in Sudan during and after its takeover by the Rapid Support Forces.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani made the following comment on Friday at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , WHO
Sudan: UN Raises Alarm Over Mass Atrocities in El Fasher as Survivors Report Executions, Killings and Rapes
More details continue to emerge about atrocities committed during and after the fall of El Fasher to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan on 23 October. Since the powerful paramilitary group made a major incursion into the city last week, the UN Human Rights Office has received “horrendous accounts of summary executions, mass killings, rapes, attacks against humanitarian workers, looting, abductions and forced displacement,” said Seif Magango, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
Ukraine: Russian attacks on energy terrorize population as winter starts; could trigger major ‘crisis within crisis’
The UN’s top aid official in Ukraine expressed concern on Friday about “continuous attacks” on energy production sites and distribution facilities.
1
1
1
Edited News | HRC
Navi Pillay Retires After Decades Defending Human Rights and Pursuing Justice
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The telecommunications shutdowns in Afghanistan in September had serious and far-reaching impacts on people’s lives, according to a briefing paper published today by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Jeremy Laurence at the UN Geneva press briefing made the following comment on the ASEAN declaration on the right to a healthy environment.
1
1
1
Edited News | IFRC , OCHA , WMO
‘Catastrophic’ Hurricane Melissa hours from landfall in Jamaica as humanitarians rush to save lives
Millions in Jamaica and across the Caribbean are bracing for massive impact from Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday as the UN and partners are warning of a “severe” and “immediate” humanitarian threat.
1
1
Edited News | WHO
‘We need all routes to open’: in Gaza WHO calls for ramp-up of medevacs, easier access for essentials
Two weeks since a ceasefire agreement entered into force in Gaza the World Health Organization (WHO) noted progress on the flow of aid while calling for more evacuations of critical patients and eased entry for essential medicines and supplies.
1
12
1
1
Edited News | WMO , UNITED NATIONS
UN chief urges boost to life-saving weather warning systems, stresses role of climate change science
No country is safe from the devastating impacts of extreme weather — and saving lives means making early-warning systems accessible to all, UN chief António Guterres said on Wednesday.