<\/p>\n
30 December 2024<\/p>\n
Israel must face the consequences of its campaign to undermine the legal framework for the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, a group of independent human rights experts* said today, as the full-scale armed assault on Gaza and forced displacement of its population continues unabated.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs we have repeatedly reminded Israel, international humanitarian law comprises a set of universal and binding rules to protect civilian objects and persons who are not, or are no longer, directly participating in hostilities and limits permissible means and methods of warfare,\u201d the experts said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRather than abide by these rules, Israel has openly defied international law time and again, inflicting maximum suffering on civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n
Citing Israel\u2019s most egregious violations, the experts highlighted crimes against humanity including\u00a0murder<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0torture<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0sexual violence<\/a><\/em>, and\u00a0repeated<\/a><\/em>\u00a0forced displacement<\/a><\/em>\u00a0amounting to\u00a0forcible transfer<\/a><\/em>, war crimes encompassing\u00a0indiscriminate<\/a><\/em>\u00a0attacks on civilians\u00a0and<\/a><\/em>\u00a0civilian<\/a><\/em>\u00a0objects<\/a><\/em>, including\u00a0objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population<\/a><\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0educational institutions and cultural heritage<\/a><\/em>, the\u00a0use<\/a><\/em>\u00a0of<\/a><\/em>\u00a0starvation<\/a><\/em>\u00a0as a weapon of war, the targeting of\u00a0healthcare<\/a><\/em>\u00a0workers<\/a><\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0health facilities<\/a><\/em>, attacks on\u00a0humanitarian workers<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0arbitrary restrictions<\/a><\/em>\u00a0on\u00a0access to humanitarian aid<\/a><\/em>, and\u00a0attacks<\/a><\/em>\u00a0on\u00a0journalists<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0collective punishment<\/a><\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0perfidy<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cPolitical and judicial actors must consider the totality of such acts against the entire civilian population under Israeli occupation, who are protected persons and do not constitute military objectives under international law,\u201d the experts said. \u201cActs aimed at their destruction in whole or in part are genocidal.\u201d<\/p>\n The experts were particularly alarmed over events in northern Gaza, where they said Israel had grievously violated its obligations as an Occupying Power.<\/p>\n \u201cIndiscriminate attacks, including on shelters for displaced persons and the Kamal Adwan Hospital and its vicinity, and the intensification of siege conditions on northern Gaza for the last three months run contrary to Israel\u2019s legal duty to ensure the protection of the civilian population,\u201d the experts said. \u201cWe are disturbed that this siege, coupled with expanding evacuation orders, appears intended to permanently displace the local population as a precursor to Gaza\u2019s annexation in further violation of international law.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe International Court of Justice has recognised\u00a0the unlawfulness of and made clear that Israel must unconditionally end<\/a><\/em>\u00a0its ongoing presence in the occupied Palestinian territory and imposed binding\u00a0provisional measures<\/a>\u00a0on Israel to prevent the commission of genocide in Gaza, while Israel\u2019s Prime Minister and former Minister of Defence are\u00a0wanted<\/a>\u00a0by the International Criminal Court,\u201d the experts said. \u201cNonetheless, Israel continues to face no real consequences, largely due to protection offered by its allies, who have gone so far as to join Israel in\u00a0delegitimising international institutions<\/a><\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0besmirching<\/a><\/em>\u00a0Special Procedures mandate-holders<\/a><\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n The experts reiterated the urgency of allowing independent and thorough investigations of serious violations of international law.<\/p>\n \u201cIsrael\u2019s continued impunity sends a dangerous message suggesting that parties to other conflicts around the world need not comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law,\u201d they said. \u201cWe cannot afford to lose the force of the multilateral system. Israel and its leaders must be held accountable.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n *The experts: Paula Gaviria Betancur,<\/strong>\u00a0Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons<\/a><\/em>;\u00a0Francesca Albanese,<\/strong>\u00a0Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967<\/a><\/em>;\u00a0Irene Khan<\/strong>,\u00a0Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression<\/a><\/em>;\u00a0Alexandra Xanthaki<\/strong>,\u00a0Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights<\/a><\/em>;\u00a0Tlaleng Mofokeng<\/strong>,\u00a0Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health<\/a><\/em>;\u00a0Farida Shaheed<\/strong>,\u00a0Special Rapporteur on the right to education<\/a><\/em>;\u00a0George Katrougalos<\/strong>,\u00a0Independent Expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order<\/a><\/em>;\u00a0Morris Tidball-Binz,<\/strong>\u00a0Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial summary or arbitrary executions<\/a><\/em>; Michael Fakhri,<\/strong>\u00a0Special Rapporteur on the right to food<\/a><\/em>; Ben Saul,<\/strong>\u00a0Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism<\/a><\/em>;\u00a0Margaret Satterthwaite,<\/strong>\u00a0Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers<\/a><\/em>;\u00a0Reem Alsalem<\/strong>,\u00a0Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"