UN Human Rights chief: 42 children killed in West Bank last month

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 Nov 2023 12:46
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The UN high commissioner for human rights says the occupied West Bank had already experienced its deadliest year on record, with approximately 200 Palestinians recorded killed.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, speaks during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq, on Aug. 9, 2023. (AP)

Today during a press conference in Amman, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, called upon "Israel" to take immediate and decisive action to safeguard the Palestinian population in the occupied West Bank.

The urgency of this appeal arises from the sharp surge in violence targeting Palestinians in the West Bank by both IOF soldiers and settlers.

Citing statistics, Turk asserted that the ongoing aggression in the West Bank has claimed the lives of at least 176 Palestinians, including 43 children and one woman. At least 8 of the 176 were killed by Israeli settlers.

Even prior to October 7, the occupied West Bank had already experienced its deadliest year on record, with approximately 200 Palestinians recorded to have been killed.

He cited numerous violations of Palestinian rights, including violence, arrests, evictions, intimidation, and humiliation, perpetrated by Israeli security forces and settlers on a daily basis.

The escalation of violence in the West Bank has raised concerns that this Palestinian territory could evolve into a third front in a broader regional conflict.

Turk said that it was "Israel's" responsibility to promptly and effectively investigate all incidents of violence and ensure that victims receive appropriate remedies. He also condemned the widespread impunity for such violations, stating that it is not only unacceptable but also a clear breach of "Israel's" obligations under international human rights law.

Potential intifada in West Bank

Israeli media has conveyed growing apprehension within Israeli security and military institutions regarding the potential outbreak of an intifada in the West Bank.

Shirit Avitan Cohen, the diplomatic affairs correspondent and political analyst for the newspaper Israel Hayom reported that during a meeting on Tuesday with the heads of settlement councils in the West Bank, additional insights into "Israel's" readiness for any escalation on a third front, beyond Gaza and Lebanon, were disclosed.

Cohen indicated that the anticipated scenario involves "an intifada in the heart of Israel against the settlers," revealing heightened concerns and preparations within Israeli circles for potential unrest in the region.

Sources involved in evaluating the situation have indicated that there is an expectation for individuals to carry out operations against settlers on the streets. This heightened concern is fueled by the absence of over 100,000 Palestinian workers from the West Bank, who have refrained from entering "Israel" since the Jewish holidays.