Jeddah (UNA) – The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) strongly condemned the escalating violence perpetrated by illegal Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians throughout the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. These attacks have resulted in deaths, injuries, mass displacement, and widespread destruction of homes, agricultural lands, places of worship, and essential infrastructure.
The Commission expressed its deep concern regarding reports indicating the displacement of more than 3800 Palestinians, nearly half of whom are children, as a result of settler violence, demolitions, and forced evictions, reflecting a systematic pattern of intimidation and aggression aimed at forcing Palestinians to leave their lands and facilitating their seizure.
The situation in the West Bank demands immediate action, as silence and impunity will only lead to further violence, displacement, and illegal annexation. Israel, as the occupying power, is bound by the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Hague Regulations, and applicable international human rights law. The International Court of Justice, in its advisory opinion of 19 July 2024, affirmed the illegality of Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territory. It also concluded that settler violence and Israel’s failure to prevent or punish attacks create a coercive environment that leads to the displacement of Palestinians and the consolidation of illegal annexation.
Illegal Israeli settlements constitute a grave violation of the rights of Palestinians to life, security, equality, housing, health, education, property, and freedom of movement, and undermine their inalienable right to self-determination. The continued expansion of settlements, land confiscation, and forced displacement entrench the de facto annexation of Palestinian territory and threaten the establishment of a sovereign, independent, and geographically contiguous Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Commission reiterated its unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and called upon the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council and the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to take urgent and effective measures to protect Palestinian civilians, ensure accountability, and guarantee compliance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, including Security Council Resolution 2334 of 2016.
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