Photo: Fabrice Coffrini Agence France-Presse “The population of the occupied West Bank is […] subjected, day after day, to unprecedented bloodshed. It is inconceivable that so many lives have been taken in such a wanton manner,” stressed the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
France Media Agency in Geneva
Posted at 7:08 a.m.
- Middle East
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Tuesday said it was “inconceivable” that more than 500 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 7.
During the same period, 24 Israelis, including eight members of the Israeli security forces, were killed in the West Bank and Israel in clashes or alleged attacks by West Bank Palestinians, he also said in a statement.
The West Bank, occupied by Israel since 1967, has seen a resurgence of violence since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7 in Gaza.
According to Palestinian officials, at least 522 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli soldiers or settlers since the start of the war.
Read also
- Israel announces the death of four hostages in Gaza
- Video | Is Israel defying international law?
- The red line does not exist, a column by Aurélie Lanctôt
“As if the tragic events in Israel and then Gaza over the past eight months were not enough, the population of the occupied West Bank is also subjected, day after day, to unprecedented bloodshed . It is inconceivable that so many lives were taken in such a wanton manner,” stressed Volker Türk.
On June 1, he said, Israeli forces killed a Palestinian teenager and seriously injured another, near the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp, near the city of Jericho, adding that the second youth died the following day.
“Their deaths, along with those of four other Palestinians killed by Israeli security forces on Monday, bring to 505 the number of Palestinians killed since October 7, according to information assessed by the United Nations Human Rights Office.” , he detailed, demanding that responsibilities be established.
According to Palestinian officials, at least 522 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank by soldiers or settlers Israelis since the start of this war.
“The killing, destruction and widespread human rights violations are unacceptable and must stop immediately,” demanded the High Commissioner , calling on Israel to “adopt but also apply rules of engagement” fully consistent with human rights standards.
The war was triggered by the unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on October 7 on Israeli soil which resulted in the death of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official figures.
Of the 251 people taken as hostages that day, 120 are still detained in Gaza, of whom 41 are dead, according to the Israeli army.< /p>
In response, Israel, which has sworn to annihilate Hamas, launched an offensive in the Gaza Strip which has so far left 36,479 dead, according to reports. figures from the Ministry of Health of the Gaza government of the Hamas administration.