UN rights workplace fearful over escalation in Gaza City, annexation plans for West Bank

Ajith Sunghay, Head of OHCHR’s Office within the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), advised UN News that the escalation has brought about intensive destruction to residential buildings in southern components of North Gaza governorate and in northeastern areas of Gaza City.

This has led to additional civilian casualties and compelled displacement.  Local well being authorities reported that 816 Palestinians had been killed between 26 August and 1 September – almost double the variety of fatalities in comparison with the earlier week.

Nowhere to go

Roughly a million Palestinians reportedly stay in northern Gaza, and he mentioned they’re being pushed into more and more smaller areas within the west of the enclave.

“Many are unable to relocate – there are no safe areas and movement is dangerous. Others are still trapped in eastern Gaza City, with humanitarian workers unable to reach them,” he mentioned.

Meanwhile, Israeli navy assaults on individuals looking for assist continued throughout the Gaza Strip, the place humanitarians are nonetheless struggling to usher in desperately wanted provides.  

OHCHR has recorded over 2,146 deaths within the neighborhood of web sites run by the US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which started operations in late May, and alongside convoy routes.

West Bank warning

Mr. Sunghay additionally pointed to growing studies of Israeli Government plans to “extend sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank or successfully annex components of it.

He recalled that final July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) “very clearly stated” that Israel has already included massive components of the OPT – significantly East Jerusalem and Area C, the place most settlements are positioned – into its territory, concluding that this quantities to annexation.

Israel “has done so, and continues doing so, with the unabated building of settlements and outposts and related infrastructure and with the forcible transfer of thousands of Palestinians from large swathes of the West Bank now controlled by the Israel forces and settlers,” he mentioned.

“It has done so also by reshaping the West Bank with an extensive network of checkpoints, and gates which ensure freedom of action to settlers while segregating Palestinian towns and villages.”

Further expulsion risk

He warned that “any declaration of extension of sovereignty over the West Bank will have further catastrophic consequences on Palestinians” – not solely on their proper to self-determination but additionally on day by day life. 

It would facilitate an extra, huge enlargement of settlements and legalization of present outposts, and permit Israel to take full management of pure assets there with none restrictions.

“Further, Israel’s objectives to formally annex ‘as much as land possible with the least Palestinians in it’ as declared by some of its leaders, would clearly place Palestinians in the annexed areas at imminent risk of expulsion through increased settler violence, deprivation of political rights, expropriation of land and mass home demolitions,” he mentioned.