UN official: The Israeli army uses heavy weapons in the West Bank
The Director of the United Nations Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ajith Sonjay, said that the Israeli forces are acting “as if there is an armed conflict.” In the West Bank, stressing that the year 2023 was “very difficult.” Regarding the West Bank.
Songai explained: According to the United Nations Information Center, the law in force in the West Bank is the framework for implementing human rights law, which means that the force that the Israeli army can use is limited to this legal framework.
He added, “There is no armed conflict.” In the West Bank, but the nature of these operations and incursions conducted by the Israeli army indicates that it uses a huge number of soldiers, drones, and sometimes fighter planes that drop bombs and shoulder-fired missiles, in other words, heavy weapons that are generally used in an armed conflict, and not In implementing the law.
Songai said: The situation in the West Bank “was very bad.” Even before October 7, when the highest death toll was recorded since the United Nations began recording victims in 2003. He said: “We also witnessed a significant increase in other violations. settler violence, excessive use of force by Israeli forces, unnecessary use of force, and the demolition and eviction of homes.”
He stressed that the severity and frequency of these violations increased significantly after October 7, saying, “If we talk about the number of people who They were killed or wounded, either because of these large-scale incursions carried out by the Israeli army in the West Bank, especially in Tulkarm, Jenin and Nablus, and sometimes in Jericho and other parts as well, this number will rise. The number of detainees from the West Bank has increased significantly. There are now approximately 9,000 people detained from the West Bank.”
It was monitored by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in a report issued this week, which showed that 836 buildings were demolished in the West Bank. Since October 7, 2023, the number of people affected by this reached 519,078 people, while 1,845 people were displaced as a result of those actions.
He indicated that West Bank residents are regularly concerned about Incursions, raids, arrest and detention, settler violence, and significant restrictions on movement affecting their daily lives underscore the lack of accountability and widespread impunity for violations committed by Israeli forces in the West Bank.
According to "Songai" The Israeli army provides security for settlers who attack Palestinians, adding, “Often we found them bystanders. In many cases, they facilitated these attacks.
He noted that other sources of concern for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights are restrictions on movement, arrests and detention.
"Sonjay" People are unable to move between cities, towns, and communities within the West Bank, which has had a significant impact on the economy, family structures, and Palestinian society. He pointed out that there is a vacuum regarding the protection of Palestinians in many cases in the West Bank.
He noted that settler attacks last year and this year are more organized, as they attack groups of towns and villages. and Palestinian communities, and stones, sticks, or weapons may be used, including firearms and rifles.
He pointed to the role of Palestinian and Israeli civil society, noting that the past few years have witnessed " “A huge contraction” For the space granted to civil society organizations. He cited what Israel did two years ago by classifying six human rights NGOs as terrorist organizations without evidence.
He stressed that Israeli NGOs “also face such threats,” He added, “For example, when the Israeli government threatened to impose a 65 percent tax on any money received from abroad, this was for the purpose of squeezing the space for Israeli NGOs.”
Songai stressed: However, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights continues to work with these Palestinian and Israeli organizations, and urges Member States not to abandon them and to continue funding them.
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