Geneva: Images of mobs of masked Israeli settlers carrying out arson attacks in the occupied West Bank have been labeled as abhorrent by Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. These incidents reflect a wider pattern of increased violence against Palestinians, he stated during a weekly press briefing at the United Nations office in Geneva.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Al-Kheetan emphasized that the surge in violence is coinciding with increased actions by Israeli authorities, including home demolitions, property seizures, arrests, and movement restrictions. He highlighted the ongoing building of settlements and the forcible displacement of Palestinians by Israeli settlers and the military. Such actions, he noted, amount to unlawful transfer and war crimes under international law.
Al-Kheetan further reiterated that Israel's claims of sovereignty over the West Bank and its annexation efforts are in violation of international law as confirmed by the International Court of Justice. These actions also infringe upon the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Trk, called for an immediate cessation of attacks against Palestinians and their property. He urged that those responsible for these acts be held accountable. The statement emphasized the necessity for Israel to end its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory, stop all new settlement activities, and evacuate settlers. The realization of Palestinians' right to self-determination was underscored as a crucial objective.
