As hundreds of thousands of Palestinians move back to northern Gaza, violence and displacement continue to afflict both Gaza and the West Bank, raising more concerns about violations of international law and renewing calls for an immediate end to all violence and accountability.
On the move in Gaza
With the return of possibly hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to northern Gaza, the UN Human Rights Office reaffirms the rights of Palestinians to safety, protection, and dignity on their way back to what is left of their homes.
The journey is difficult, with many unable to afford transportation and forced to walk long distances with unreliable telecommunication networks and no available toilets. This is particularly hard for the most vulnerable groups and the families who support them, including children, pregnant women, older people, and people with disabilities forced to make the journey without adequate assistance. Reports raise concern about an increasing number of children being separated from their families while on the move.
As the occupying power, Israel has the obligation to ensure the provision of shelter, food and medical care and to restore and maintain public order and normal civil life for the Palestinian people. Israel is also prohibited from subjecting Palestinians to deportation outside the Occupied Palestinian Territory or forcible transfer within it.
Killings continue around “buffer zones”
The continued killings of Palestinians since the beginning of the ceasefire in and around vaguely defined and poorly communicated “buffer zones” in Gaza, particularly in the vicinity of the Netzarim and Philadelphi corridors and along the eastern barrier fence, is cause for alarm.
As of 27 January, the Israeli military reportedly killed at least 14 Palestinians, including 2 boys and 1 girl, mostly around these so-called “buffer zones” since the onset of the ceasefire on 19 January. Among those killed are two Palestinian brothers, including a boy, who were killed while reportedly checking their home in Rafah outside of such a zone.
The Israeli military remains bound by international humanitarian law’s principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions, as well as the relevant human rights rules on use of force applicable to law enforcement. As a matter of urgency, it must take immediate steps to ensure its rules of engagement prevent further unlawful civilian deaths.
Growing violence in the West Bank
Accountability and adherence to international law are also urgently needed in the West Bank, where a large-scale operation is unfolding with devastating consequences for Palestinians, both in terms of violence and displacement. Since 19 January, Israeli security forces killed 20 Palestinians including a 16-year-old boy in East Jerusalem on Monday.
Deadly operation in Jenin
An Israeli operation has continued in Jenin since 21 January with deadly consequences and was extended this week to Tulkarem. Israeli security forces have so far killed at least 18 Palestinians in this operation, most of whom are reportedly unarmed.
This includes a two-year-old girl who was shot dead in her home by Israeli security forces on Saturday.
After weeks of siege and use of force by both the Israeli and Palestinian security forces, 3,000 families from the Jenin Refugee Camp have been forced to flee – about 80 percent of total Camp residents. The remaining families are living in grave danger with no access to water, electricity, and other basic services.
Videos circulating on the internet and reported by the media show evidence of Israeli security forces targeting Palestinians clearly posing no threat to life or limb. The use of tactics and weapons developed for war such as airstrikes in the West Bank where there are no active hostilities violates the international human rights law standards applicable to law enforcement.
On Monday afternoon, the Israeli military expanded its operations to Tulkarem and its two refugee camps, where further destruction of roads and infrastructure is reportedly ongoing. According to information gathered by the UN Human Rights Office, several Palestinian families were already forced to leave their homes by the Israeli military for the duration of the operation, despite the fact they have nowhere to go in the middle of the winter.
Raids and movement restrictions continue
In addition, Israeli security forces in recent days have continued their routine raids of Palestinian communities across the West Bank including in Hebron, Nablus, and Bethlehem. Houses of Palestinian prisoners released as part of the ceasefire deal were also raided to prevent any “display of joy.”
Suffocating restrictions on Palestinians’ freedom of movement across the West Bank persisted for the tenth consecutive day today, practically tearing communities apart and largely paralysing daily life.
Human rights central to the way forward
The continued implementation of the ceasefire deal in Gaza provides hope that an end to the horrors of the past 15 months is in sight. Israel and Palestinian armed groups must do everything in their power to make sure the ceasefire is sustainable so that the massive protection and humanitarian needs of the civilian population in Gaza can be addressed, and the process of a human rights-based recovery and reconstruction can commence.
A vital prerequisite for this goal is to ensure strict adherence to international law in this critical time. The international community must also prioritize accountability for the crimes under international law committed over the past 15 months to facilitate redress and justice for victims. To prevent recurrence, it is essential that the root causes of the conflict are addressed based on international law, in particular human rights. This includes ending Israel’s unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and ensuring accountability as the basis of just and lasting peace that fulfills the rights of Palestinians and Israelis.
