Urges For Violence In The West Bank To Be Stopped, UN Human Rights Chief Calls For Accountability For The Murder Of Hundreds Of Palestinians

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Törk. (Wikimedia Commons/EU2018BG Bulgarian Presidency)

JAKARTA - Volker T\"urk's United Nations Human Rights Chief calls for an end to the ever-increasing deadly violence in the West Bank since October, urging accountability for the killing of more than 500 Palestinians by Israeli troops and settlers.

The latest conflict in the Gaza Strip that broke out since the Hamas-led militant group attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, also had an impact on conditions in the West Bank.

"It's as if the tragic events in Israel and then Gaza over the past eight months are not enough, people in the occupied West Bank are also the target of unprecedented bloodshed every day. It is not understandable that so many lives have been taken in such a cruel way," Turk said, launching the Palestinian news agency WAFA May 4.

"The widespread killings, destructions and human rights abuses are unacceptable and must be stopped immediately. Israel must not only adopt but also enforce engagement rules that are fully in line with the prevailing norms and human rights standards," he explained.

"Every charge of unlawful killings must be thoroughly and independently investigated, those responsible must be held accountable," Turk stressed.

The killing of Palestinians by Israeli forces, which has hit record highs in the first nine months of 2023, has risen sharply since last October.

Since early 2024, nearly 200 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, compared to 113 and 50 people killed in the same period in 2023 and 2022.

"Extensive immunity to such crimes has become commonplace for too long in the occupied West Bank. Such legal immunity has created an environment that allows unlawful killings by Israeli forces. International law must be respected and enforced, and accountability must be ensured," Turk explained.

"The verification of deaths and in-depth monitoring of more than 80 cases by the United Nations Human Rights Office demonstrates consistent violations of international human rights laws related to the use of force by Israeli forces through the use of unnecessary and disproportionate lethal force. as well as increased killings that appear to be targetedly planned," T\", said T\"urk.

"They are also showing systematic rejection or delaying medical aid for those seriously injured", he continued.

"Violence by Israeli forces and Israeli settlers, against a continuing background of assassination and destruction scales in Gaza, has created fears and unsafe feelings among Palestinians in the occupied West Bank," Turk said.