Palestine: Justice must be ensured for Palestinian victims of Israel’s systematic human rights violations and crimes

In Arab Countries, International Advocacy Program by CIHRS

The continued failure to hold Israel accountable for its widespread and systematic human rights violations and international crimes against the Palestinian people, including the crime of apartheid, was the subject of a joint report submitted to the United Nations by Al-Haq, Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights, Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, and Habitat International Coalition – Housing and Land Rights Network.

The report addresses issues of third State responsibility; the failure of States to cooperate – through the UN and other international and regional organisations – to bring an end to Israeli impunity; the failures of international justice and corporate accountability in Palestine; and the dangers of continued and further entrenchment of Israel’s pervasive impunity.

The report contains recommendations for addressing the impunity gap, such as the activation of universal jurisdiction mechanisms by third States, and support for a full, thorough, and comprehensive criminal investigation by the International Criminal Court into the Situation in the State of Palestine and the Mavi Marmara flotilla attacks.

The report also recommends continued support, including annual updates, for the UN Database on companies profiting from illegal Israeli settlements, and the prohibition of trade with illegal Israeli colonial settlements through domestic legislation, amongst other accountability measures.

The comprehensive 62-page report, addressed to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Mr Michael Lynk,  was submitted ahead of the Rapporteur’s presentation of a report on accountability to the United Nations General Assembly in October 2020.

The full joint report is available to read here.

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