Promotion and Protection of Human Rights

Statement by Ms. Nadya Rasheed, First Counsellor, before the Third Committee, 68th session, on Agenda Item 69(c): Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 30 October 2013:

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 At the outset, allow me on behalf of the Palestinian people to express our sincere appreciation to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Professor Richard Falk, for the outstanding manner in which he has carried out his mandate. The Palestinian people will forever be grateful to Professor Falk for his determination to address the historic injustice inflicted on the Palestinian people by an occupying Power who has day in and day out violated nearly every single one of their inherent human rights. We continue to place on record our deep regret that the occupying Power obstructed the efforts of the Special Rapporteur to fulfill his mandate by denying him entry into Occupied Palestine despite the fact that such cooperation is a fundamental legal obligation incident to membership in the organization. In this regard, we also wish to express our sheer disappointment that no real action was taken by the UN to remedy this grievous situation and bring Israel into compliance. 

In light of the fact that Professor Falk has presented his last report to the General Assembly, the delegation of the State of Palestine wishes to stress, as the Special Rapporteur did in his report, the importance of not allowing this pattern of non-cooperation by Israel to become a precedent that will hamper the efforts of future special rapporteurs to be as effective as possible in investigating contentions relating to the human rights situation in the Occupied State of Palestine.

Mr. Chairman,

I regret to inform you that any review of the situation on the ground this past year in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, reconfirms that a human rights crisis is being endured by the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. Israel continues to deliberately pursue policies and practices by which it is willfully, systematically and grossly violating international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, denying the Palestinian people their inalienable rights and freedoms, including to life, to self-determination, to property, to livelihood, to education, to healthcare, to water, to worship, to expression, to development, and to movement.

In specific, the occupied Palestinian population continues to suffer the deadly consequences of military raids, excessive force against civilians, including peaceful protesters, arrest and detention of more civilians, including children, and abuse and mal-treatment of thousands of Palestinians who remain captive in Israeli prisons and detention centers. In terms of Palestinian prisoners, we wish to inform this Committee that nearly 5000 Palestinians, including 200 children, 41 under the age of 16, are currently being held in Israelis prisons and detention centers.

Simultaneously, it continues its unlawful colonization campaign, constructing and expanding settlements, the Wall, bypass roads, and checkpoints in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, all aimed at creating facts on the ground to alter the Territory’s character, status and demographic composition, entrench its presence on the land and advance its expansionist agenda.

Israel’s settlement campaign does not only encompass the construction of settlements and the Wall, but it also includes the confiscation of land, demolition of homes which just this year accounted for the destruction of over 400 Palestinian structures and the displacement of more than 400 people, including 218 children. It also encompasses the constant terror, violence and destruction being perpetrated by Israeli settlers which amounted to more than 300 incidents this past year. In addition to physical assaults against Palestinians, there has been a reported 6500 olive trees, the main livelihood for many Palestinians, that have been destroyed by settlers over the past year.  It should be reiterated that the Israeli Government bears the responsibility of these criminal and terrorist acts as they continue to transfer settlers to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, protect them and permit their lawlessness.

Moreover, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains of grave concern as Israel’s illegal sea, air and land blockade, now in its 7th year, continues in collective punishment of the entire population, exacerbating poverty, widespread socio-economic ills and despair. Last year a report by OCHA stated that the challenges which confront Palestinians in Gaza now will only intensify over the coming years and if urgent action is not taken on fundamental aspects of life including, water, which in the Gaza Strip 90 percent of it is unfit for human consumption, sanitation, electricity, education, health and other aspects that in the year of 2020 Gaza will be completely unlivable.  Most recently, in his report, Professor Falk has stated that the dire prediction of the year of 2020 was too optimistic and that alarmingly 2016 was a more of a realistic date. In this connection, we call for lifting of this inhumane blockade on our people and for the sustained opening of the Gaza Strips crossings to allow for the normal movement of persons and goods, in accordance with humanitarian law.

Mr. Chairman,

It is high time to reverse 46 years of human suffering by the Palestinian people at the hands of Israel, the occupying Power.  It is also high time for Israel, the occupying Power, to be held accountable for its human rights violations and crimes against the Palestinian people, otherwise it will only be further emboldened to continue acting with impunity in its gross violations of the law. Respect for international law is the main component in fostering an environment conducive for the attainment of peace- peace that will ultimately result in a complete end to Israel’s occupation, and the realization by the Palestinian people of their human rights and the long-awaited fulfillment of their national aspirations to live as a free, secure, dignified, self-reliant people in their independent State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Thank you Mr. Chairman.