U.N. Human Rights Council Passes Resolution to Protect Palestinian Lives
In a vote 32 in favor, 8 against and 6 abstentions, today a resolution was adopted by the Human Rights Council at the Palais Des Nations Geneva. The Resolution called for immediate protection of the Palestinian civilians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in compliance with human rights law and international humanitarian law.
The resolution also called for an urgent high-level fact finding mission to Beit Hanoun to assess the situation of victims, address the needs of survivors, and make recommendations on ways and means to protect Palestinian civilians against further Israeli assault.
The mission is to report to the Human Rights Council no later than the middle of December 2006 on progress made towards the fulfillment of its mandate. Meanwhile, Israel accuses the Council of “double standards” and “politicized decision-making.
Elisa Burchett
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
SPECIAL SESSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ON ISRAELI MILITARY INCURSIONS IN NORTHERN GAZA OPENS
Speakers Call on Council to Condemn Israel’s Attack on Beit Hanoun and
to Send a Fact-finding Mission to the Town
The Human Rights Council this morning opened its third special session which is looking at Israeli military incursions in Northern Gaza and the assault on Beit Hanoun, hearing speakers call for the Council to condemn the human rights violations of Palestinian people, provide Palestinians with protection and send a fact-finding mission to Beit Hanoun.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour told the Council that she would soon be visiting Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory where she would emphasize the obligation to protect civilians during armed confrontation, and the entitlement of all, Palestinians and Israelis alike, to live free from fear, free from want, and free from harm.
Palestine said Beit Hanoun seemed today as if it had been hit by a strong earthquake. Once again, the Israeli army had unleashed its lethal power against defenceless Palestinian civilians in Beit Hanoun, shelling their homes while they slept and targeting and shelling again those civilians fleeing the earlier bombardments. The perpetrators of this horrendous war crime should be brought to international justice.
Israel blamed the Palestinian Authority and its Government because they did nothing to stop the brazen firing of Kassam rockets at Israeli civilian communities from within Beit Hanoun, setting the stage for an Israeli response which became inevitable. Israel accused the Council of one-sidedness, double standards and politicized decision-making, adding that those who pushed for the special session were conspicuously ignoring tragedies in other parts of the planet.
Most speakers condemned Israel’s military operations in Northern Gaza in the past few months which had left more than 350 Palestinians dead. There were accusations that Israel was using disproportionate force and resorting to collective punishment. The attack on Beit Hanoun was strongly condemned, and many called for a high-level fact-finding mission to the town.
A number of speakers, led by the United States and Canada, expressed their concern and regret for the deaths of civilians in Beit Hanoun, but said the draft resolutions being circulated provided an unbalanced view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They called on the Palestinian Authority to take concrete measures to address Israel’s security concerns and eliminate attacks against Israel.
Speaking at this morning’s meeting were Representatives of Palestine, Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Bahrain on behalf of the Arab Group, Cuba on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, Algeria on behalf of the African Group, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Ecuador, Finland on behalf of the European Union, Israel, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Algeria, Cuba, Indonesia, Mauritius, Tunisia, Brazil, China, Zambia, Morocco, Switzerland, Canada, India, Uruguay, Russian Federation, Jordan, Chile, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Costa Rica, Egypt, Kuwait, Libya, Sudan, Belarus, Iran, United States, Turkey and Venezuela.
The Council will resume its special session at 3 p.m. this afternoon to continue to hear statements by speakers.
Statement of High Commissioner for Human Rights
LOUISE ARBOUR, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, reminded the Council of her forthcoming visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory in which she would have the opportunity to examine developments on the ground, and would conduct field visits, as well as hold briefings and meetings with authorities, civil society and non-governmental organizations, and with United Nations partners.
Ms. Arbour said her primary concern would be to emphasize the obligation to protect civilians during armed confrontation, and the entitlement of all, Palestinians and Israelis alike, to live free from fear, free from want, and free from harm. She looked forward to a productive mission and welcomed the opportunity of sharing with the Council the results of her visit at the third session of the Human Rights Council upon her return.
Statements
http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/news_media.nsf/(httpNewsByYear_en)/9EE551C649734B07C1257227004AD541?OpenDocument
UN Human Rights Council denounces recent Israeli military actions in northern Gaza http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20612&Cr=rights&Cr1=council
Israeli Authorities’ Explanation of Beit Hanoun Attack Unacceptable, a report by Elisa Burchett
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2811&blz=1
Letter from the People of Beit Hanoun to John Bolton
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2810&blz=1
800-year-old Um An-Nasr Mosque in Beit Hanoun Destroyed by the Israeli Forces, a report by Yousef Alhelou
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2792&blz=1
Catastrophe in Beit Hanoun, a report from Yousef Alhelou
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2791&blz=1
Mourning Beit Hanoun Buries Its Dead
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2787&blz=1
Dark Autumn Clouds Raining Blood over Beit Hanoun,
a report from Yousef Alhelou
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2780&blz=1
Members of the European Parliament 'shocked and appalled' by the 'horrible carnage' in Gaza
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2798&blz=1
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel Response to Beit Hanoun Tragedy
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2779&blz=1
Gaza: From "Summer Rain" in the South to "Autumn Clouds" in the North, by Yousef Alhelou in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2769&blz=1
Palestinian Women Shield Fighters
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2765&blz=1
Ramzy Baroud: Palestine as a Foil for People’s Unconnected Dreams
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2756&blz=1
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel Call for Protection and Responsibility in Beit Hanoun
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2755&blz=1
In a vote 32 in favor, 8 against and 6 abstentions, today a resolution was adopted by the Human Rights Council at the Palais Des Nations Geneva. The Resolution called for immediate protection of the Palestinian civilians living in the Occupied Palestinian Territory in compliance with human rights law and international humanitarian law.
The resolution also called for an urgent high-level fact finding mission to Beit Hanoun to assess the situation of victims, address the needs of survivors, and make recommendations on ways and means to protect Palestinian civilians against further Israeli assault.
The mission is to report to the Human Rights Council no later than the middle of December 2006 on progress made towards the fulfillment of its mandate. Meanwhile, Israel accuses the Council of “double standards” and “politicized decision-making.
Elisa Burchett
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
SPECIAL SESSION OF HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL ON ISRAELI MILITARY INCURSIONS IN NORTHERN GAZA OPENS
Speakers Call on Council to Condemn Israel’s Attack on Beit Hanoun and
to Send a Fact-finding Mission to the Town
The Human Rights Council this morning opened its third special session which is looking at Israeli military incursions in Northern Gaza and the assault on Beit Hanoun, hearing speakers call for the Council to condemn the human rights violations of Palestinian people, provide Palestinians with protection and send a fact-finding mission to Beit Hanoun.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour told the Council that she would soon be visiting Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory where she would emphasize the obligation to protect civilians during armed confrontation, and the entitlement of all, Palestinians and Israelis alike, to live free from fear, free from want, and free from harm.
Palestine said Beit Hanoun seemed today as if it had been hit by a strong earthquake. Once again, the Israeli army had unleashed its lethal power against defenceless Palestinian civilians in Beit Hanoun, shelling their homes while they slept and targeting and shelling again those civilians fleeing the earlier bombardments. The perpetrators of this horrendous war crime should be brought to international justice.
Israel blamed the Palestinian Authority and its Government because they did nothing to stop the brazen firing of Kassam rockets at Israeli civilian communities from within Beit Hanoun, setting the stage for an Israeli response which became inevitable. Israel accused the Council of one-sidedness, double standards and politicized decision-making, adding that those who pushed for the special session were conspicuously ignoring tragedies in other parts of the planet.
Most speakers condemned Israel’s military operations in Northern Gaza in the past few months which had left more than 350 Palestinians dead. There were accusations that Israel was using disproportionate force and resorting to collective punishment. The attack on Beit Hanoun was strongly condemned, and many called for a high-level fact-finding mission to the town.
A number of speakers, led by the United States and Canada, expressed their concern and regret for the deaths of civilians in Beit Hanoun, but said the draft resolutions being circulated provided an unbalanced view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They called on the Palestinian Authority to take concrete measures to address Israel’s security concerns and eliminate attacks against Israel.
Speaking at this morning’s meeting were Representatives of Palestine, Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Bahrain on behalf of the Arab Group, Cuba on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, Algeria on behalf of the African Group, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Ecuador, Finland on behalf of the European Union, Israel, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Algeria, Cuba, Indonesia, Mauritius, Tunisia, Brazil, China, Zambia, Morocco, Switzerland, Canada, India, Uruguay, Russian Federation, Jordan, Chile, Qatar, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Costa Rica, Egypt, Kuwait, Libya, Sudan, Belarus, Iran, United States, Turkey and Venezuela.
The Council will resume its special session at 3 p.m. this afternoon to continue to hear statements by speakers.
Statement of High Commissioner for Human Rights
LOUISE ARBOUR, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, reminded the Council of her forthcoming visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory in which she would have the opportunity to examine developments on the ground, and would conduct field visits, as well as hold briefings and meetings with authorities, civil society and non-governmental organizations, and with United Nations partners.
Ms. Arbour said her primary concern would be to emphasize the obligation to protect civilians during armed confrontation, and the entitlement of all, Palestinians and Israelis alike, to live free from fear, free from want, and free from harm. She looked forward to a productive mission and welcomed the opportunity of sharing with the Council the results of her visit at the third session of the Human Rights Council upon her return.
Statements
http://www.unog.ch/unog/website/news_media.nsf/(httpNewsByYear_en)/9EE551C649734B07C1257227004AD541?OpenDocument
UN Human Rights Council denounces recent Israeli military actions in northern Gaza http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20612&Cr=rights&Cr1=council
Israeli Authorities’ Explanation of Beit Hanoun Attack Unacceptable, a report by Elisa Burchett
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2811&blz=1
Letter from the People of Beit Hanoun to John Bolton
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2810&blz=1
800-year-old Um An-Nasr Mosque in Beit Hanoun Destroyed by the Israeli Forces, a report by Yousef Alhelou
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2792&blz=1
Catastrophe in Beit Hanoun, a report from Yousef Alhelou
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2791&blz=1
Mourning Beit Hanoun Buries Its Dead
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2787&blz=1
Dark Autumn Clouds Raining Blood over Beit Hanoun,
a report from Yousef Alhelou
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2780&blz=1
Members of the European Parliament 'shocked and appalled' by the 'horrible carnage' in Gaza
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2798&blz=1
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel Response to Beit Hanoun Tragedy
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2779&blz=1
Gaza: From "Summer Rain" in the South to "Autumn Clouds" in the North, by Yousef Alhelou in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza Strip
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2769&blz=1
Palestinian Women Shield Fighters
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2765&blz=1
Ramzy Baroud: Palestine as a Foil for People’s Unconnected Dreams
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=2756&blz=1
Physicians for Human Rights-Israel Call for Protection and Responsibility in Beit Hanoun
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout5.php&id=2755&blz=1