The Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The protection of Palestinian Human Rights must not be excluded from international protection
10 December 2024
On the International Human Rights day, observed on December 10, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestinian emphasized that the human rights of Palestinians must not be excluded from international protection. This commemoration coincides with the 76 anniversary of the ethnic cleansing crime known as”Nakba”, which displaced Palestinians, turning them into refugees in their homeland and the diaspora. It also comes amidst Israel’s ongoing genocide and the Occupations racist and criminal policies in the west bank including Jerusalem
The Ministry emphasized that this year’s International Human Rights day coincides with the 430th day since the beginning of the genocidal war, waged by Israeli occupation forces against our people in the Gaza Strip. This war has, to date, resulted in the martyrdom of more than 44,664 Palestinians, including 17,581 children, 12,048 women and 190 journalists, and the injury of thousands, more than half of whom are women and children. The war has also forcibly displaced 1.9 million Palestinians, with Israeli occupying forces targeting of civilian areas protected under international humanitarian law, including homes, schools, hospitals and places of worship. This has led to the cessation of operations in several hospitals and the killing of 1055 medical personnel. Additionally, the Israeli occupation authorities have weaponized starvation as a tool of war.
The Ministry further highlighted the daily crimes and assaults of the Israeli occupation forces across all Palestinian territories. Since October 7, 2023, Israeli occupying forces has unlawfully killed 806 Palestinians in the West bank, including East Jerusalem, with more than 168 of them are children. Hundreds of Palestinians have also been arrested, bringing the total number of detainees in the so called “Israeli detention center” to 10200, including 270 children, who are held arbitrarily under inhumane conditions. The Ministry pointed out that Israeli occupying forces intentionally target Palestinian people with excessive force during arrests and subject Palestinian detainees to various forms of physical and psychological violence, in violation of international law and UN resolutions.
In this context, the Ministry affirmed that celebrating International Human Rights Day holds no meaning while a genocide is being committed against the Palestinian people without taking real steps to ensure their protection and inclusion under international safeguards. It called on the international community for immediate action to hold Israel, the occupying power, accountable for its inhumane crimes. The Ministry also emphasized its determination to intensify diplomatic and legal efforts at all levels to stop the brutal aggression on Gaza, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the strip, halt the forced displacement of Palestinians, and provide necessary legal protection for the entire Palestinian people.