UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

A fragile ceasefire is allowing the people of Gaza to breathe, Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees to be released, and lifesaving humanitarian aid to be delivered.

“At this tenuous moment, the world must ask itself how to resolve this decades old conflict and stop the cycle of violence. Any plans for a better future must deal with the past, so accountability and justice for violations are crucial,” Türk said.

“In Gaza, they have been subjected to blockades amounting to collective punishment. In the West Bank, illegal settlements and violence have been growing for decades, in violation of international law, with a significant increase over the past three years. Most of these violations have gone unpunished,” he said.

“There is absolutely no justification for the horrific attacks committed on 7 October 2023 when Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups brutally assaulted Israeli communities, killed civilians, and took over 250 hostages, and I have repeatedly condemned these acts,” Türk said.

“And nothing justifies the appalling manner in which Israel has conducted its military operations in Gaza, which consistently breached fundamental principles of international humanitarian law. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 48,000 people, most of whom are women and children, have been killed. Over 35,000 children have lost one or both parents. More than 1,054 medical personnel have been killed, with many others injured or detained by Israeli Forces. At least 277 United Nations staff have been killed, as well as a reported 200 journalists and media workers,” Türk said.

“As my Office and others have documented, Israel’s means and methods of warfare have caused staggering levels of casualties and destruction, raising concerns over the commission of war crimes and other possible atrocity crimes,” he added.

In the West Bank, Israel has ramped up its use of unnecessary and disproportionate force against Palestinians, has destroyed refugee camps, and displaced tens of thousands of people. In the northern West Bank, many are now in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Israel has severely restricted movement, arrested thousands and subjected them to torture and ill-treatment, and has undertaken other practices that could constitute collective punishment. The Palestinian Authority is also arbitrarily detaining, torturing, and ill-treating many detainees, including some it perceives as political opponents.

There has been an unprecedented disregard for the principles of international humanitarian law in the conduct of hostilities in Gaza and Israel since October 2023.

There have been a limited number of investigations and indictments by the Israeli authorities, for example, for abuse of detainees, “However, there are serious doubts about the capacity and will of the Israeli justice system to deliver full accountability, in line with international standards, notably in relation to the unlawful killing of Palestinians in Gaza or in the West Bank,” he said.

According to the report, there are serious doubts about the capacity and will of the Israeli justice system to ensure comprehensive accountability, in line with international standards of impartiality, independence, promptness, and effectiveness.

“Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups have taken, held, and tortured hostages in Gaza, and have indiscriminately fired projectiles into Israeli territory, amounting to war crimes. There are grave concerns that they may have committed other serious breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza, including the intentional co-location of military objectives and Palestinian civilians,” he said.

“Any attempts at shaping a peaceful future where such horrors do not recur must ensure that perpetrators are held to account. The tragic record of this conflict, and of so many other conflicts, shows clearly how impunity begets more violence. Abuse is given free rein to ripple across other war zones. This harms us all, and generations down the line. Delegitimising and threatening international institutions that are there to serve people and uphold international law also harms us all,” Türk said.

He called for an independent investigation into grave violations of international law, committed by Israel in the course of its attacks across Gaza, and by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups.

For more information and media requests, please contact

Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org

Jeremy Laurence + 41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org

Thameen Al-Kheetan +41 22 917 4232 / thameen.alkheetan@un.org

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