United Nations Experts Decry Mounting Evidence of Israeli Genocide
On November 16, UN Special Rapporteurs associated with the UN Human Rights Commissioner's office provided evidence of increasing genocidal incitement, overt intent to "destroy the Palestinian people under occupation," loud calls for a "second Nakba" in Gaza and the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory, and the use of powerful weaponry with inherently indiscriminate impacts, resulting in a colossal death toll and destruction of life-sustaining infrastructure.
"Many of us already raised the alarm about the risk of genocide in Gaza," the experts said. "We are deeply disturbed by the failure of governments to heed our call and to achieve an immediate ceasefire. We are also profoundly concerned about the support of certain governments for Israel's strategy of warfare against the besieged population of Gaza, and the failure of the international system to mobilize to prevent genocide." they added. After providing detailed evidence of the death and destruction in both Gaza and the West Bank by the Israeli forces, they said: "The international community has an obligation to prevent atrocity crimes, including genocide, and should immediately consider all diplomatic, political and economic measures to that end." They urged immediate action by UN Member States and the UN system as a whole.
The Human Rights Commissioner called for: "The deployment of an international protective presence in the occupied Palestinian territory under the supervision of the UN; Collaboration of all parties with the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, and the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on the investigation opened in March 2021, as well as crimes arising from the recent events, underlining that the crimes committed today are partly due to a lack of deterrence and continued impunity; Implement an arms embargo on all warring parties; Address the underlying causes of the conflict by ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory."
"The international community, including not only States but also non-State actors such as businesses, must do everything it can to immediately end the risk of genocide against the Palestinian people, and ultimately end Israeli apartheid and occupation of the Palestinian territory," the experts said.
The statement of the Special Rapporteurs is available here.
This article was published in
Volume 53 Number 23 - November 2023
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/Tmlm2023/Articles/MS532314.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca