Pak Sahafat – United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Thor Vansland, said: I call on Israel as the occupying force to adhere to its obligations under international law to defend the Palestinian people against any acts or threats of violence.
According to Pak Sahafat News Agency, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Tur Wenceland, said on Wednesday local time at the Security Council meeting about Palestine: Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016) calls on Israel to “immediately and completely stop all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem” and “respect all its legal obligations in this regard”. Nevertheless, settlement activities have continued during the period of preparation of this report.
This UN official, who presented the 25th report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of Resolution 2334 (2016) between December 8, 2022 and March 13, 2023, stated: During the preparation of this report, eighty-two Palestinians, including one woman and 17 children, were killed by Israeli security forces during demonstrations, clashes, security operations, attacks by Israelis and other incidents.
He stated: Also, 2,687 Palestinians, including 123 women and 320 children, were injured. Of these, 308 people were injured by war bullets and 2,110 people were injured by inhaling tear gas. In addition, four Palestinians were killed and 89 people, including 14 women and 12 children, were injured in the increasing attacks by Israeli settlers, who also damage property belonging to Palestinians.
Vansland added: Also, during the Palestinian attacks, 13 Israeli civilians, including one woman, three children, and one foreign citizen were killed, and 49 Israelis, including two women and seven children, and six Israeli security forces were injured in shootings and clashes with Palestinians.
This UN official continued: Israeli security forces conducted 1,840 search and arrest operations in the West Bank, as a result of which 1,906 Palestinians, including 133 children, were arrested.
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He added: Israel is currently detaining 967 Palestinians, which is the highest number in more than a decade.
The UN special coordinator in the Middle East peace process emphasized: I am deeply concerned about the continued expansion of Israeli settlements, including the recent authorization of 9 illegal bases and the construction of more than 7,000 housing units, and the possibility of settlement in the E1 area, which is crucial for the future construction of Palestinian settlements in a Palestinian state.
This UN official stated: The demolition and occupation of Palestinian homes, including the significant increase in these demolitions in occupied East Jerusalem, is a multiple human rights violation and raises concerns about the risk of forced displacement. I call on the Israeli government to immediately end this practice in line with its obligations under international humanitarian law.
Wensland added: I am deeply concerned about the escalation of the cycle of violence. I condemn all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terrorism that have resulted in increased casualties. The operations of the Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank and the subsequent clashes have resulted in the deaths and injuries of a large number of Palestinians.
The UN special coordinator in the Middle East peace process continued: I emphasize again that the security forces should use weapons only in cases where life is really in danger and should quickly and completely investigate all cases of death or injury caused by the use of weapons and hold the officials accountable.
He said: I am deeply concerned about the increasing level of settler-related violence in the occupied West Bank. I am particularly appalled by the violent events in Hawara. All actors must be held accountable. I call on Israel, as the occupying power, to abide by its obligations under international law to defend the Palestinian people against any acts or threats of violence.
He emphasized: There is no substitute for a legitimate political process that resolves the core issues in dispute. Trying to manage conflict is not a substitute for trying to resolve it. I call on Israelis, Palestinians, regional countries and the international community to re-engage in meaningful negotiations and ultimately peace.