New York: The UN Secretary-General said he was “gravely concerned” at escalating violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, while the UN rights office, OHCHR, appealed for “a redoubling of efforts to restore calm”, after airstrikes and days of clashes between protesters and Israeli police.
The ongoing violence marks a dramatic escalation of tensions linked to the potential eviction of Palestinian families from East Jerusalem by Israeli settlers and access to one of the most sacred sites in the city, which is a key hub for Islam, Judaism and Christianity.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his deep concern over the situation, including the escalation of violence in Gaza, “which add to the heightened tensions and violence in occupied East Jerusalem”, the statement issued by his Spokesperson said.
“He is deeply saddened to learn of increasingly large numbers of casualties, including children, from Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, and of Israeli fatalities from rockets launched from Gaza. The Secretary-General’s thoughts are with the families of the victims.”
He called on Israeli security forces to “exercise maximum restraint and calibrate their use of force”, adding that “indiscriminate launching of rockets and mortars towards Israeli population centres is unacceptable.”
Mr. Guterres said the United Nations was working “with all relevant parties to de-escalate the situation urgently.”
In Geneva, UN rights office spokesperson Rupert Colville cited reports that more than 900 Palestinians had been injured between 7 and 10 May in East Jerusalem, and over 200 in the West Bank, “most by Israeli security forces”, some of whom had also been hurt.
Rocket attacks into Israel
Palestinian armed groups, meanwhile, had launched “some 250 rockets towards Israel in the past 24 hours” with at least 17 Israeli civilians reportedly injured, the OHCHR official said.
This use of indiscriminate weapons “is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law and must stop immediately”.
Aerial targeting
Airstrikes had been carried out in Gaza by Israeli Defense Forces, Mr. Colville continued, citing reports that 24 Palestinians had been killed, including nine children and one woman.
“Israel must respect international humanitarian law, in particular the cardinal principles on the conduct of hostilities, namely distinction, proportionality and precautions”, he said. “Any attack, including airstrikes, should be directed solely at military objectives and all feasible precautions must be taken to avoid civilian deaths and injury and damage to civilian objects.”
The development follows protests in Jerusalem at the potential imminent eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighborhoods, as the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end and as families break their daily fast with their evening meal, or iftar.
Last Friday also saw violent clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians reportedly blocked from reaching Jerusalem’s Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount compound for prayers.
“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.”
Humanitarian needs
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for the region, Lynn Hastings, issued a statement calling for the escalation in fighting to stop “to avoid more deaths and injuries.”
She said needs would likely rise in the Gaza Strip, especially with the drain on healthcare due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, while movement of humanitarian personnel and the entry of goods subject to Israeli blockade, “must be continuously allowed.”
“All parties have obligations under international humanitarian law; the principles of distinction, precaution and proportionality in the use of force, must be adhered to”, she said. “Airstrikes in densely populated areas, risk violating these principles.” News.un.org
