Ministry of Foreign Affairs Welcomes UN Human Rights Council Resolution on Accountability and Justice

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Welcomes UN Human Rights Council Resolution on Accountability and Justice

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine welcomes the adoption by UN Human Rights Council of a resolution addressing the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and emphasizing the need to ensure accountability and justice.

The resolution was adopted by a significant majority of member states, with 24 countries voting in favor, 19 abstaining, and 4 voting against. It underscores the necessity of holding perpetrators of violations and crimes against the Palestinian people accountable, ensuring an end to impunity and achieving justice.

The Ministry stresses the particular importance of this resolution in light of the current circumstances, noting that Israeli occupation forces continue to commit grave and systematic violations of international law, including International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law. It also highlighted the escalation of settler terrorism carried out under the protection of Israeli occupation forces within a broader context marked by a lack of accountability and ongoing impunity.

The Ministry expresses its appreciation to the countries that voted in favor of the resolution, stating that their positions reflect a genuine commitment to the principles of international justice, human rights protection, and the rule of law. It described these positions as an important step toward strengthening accountability and combating impunity. It also extended its gratitude for their role in sponsoring and adopting the resolution.

The Ministry expresses its dismay at the positions of countries that did not support the resolution, noting that such stances encourage Israel and those responsible for crimes to continue their violations against the Palestinian people. It reaffirmed that accountability is the foundation of justice and a prerequisite for achieving peace.

Furthermore, the Ministry emphasized that the adoption of this resolution reflects the responsibility of the international community, particularly UN member states, to uphold their legal obligations under international law. This includes the duty to ensure respect for Geneva conventions to refrain from recognizing the unlawful situation arising from the occupation and to avoid providing any form of support that contributes to its continuation. The Ministry also referenced the ICJ advisory opinion, which affirmed states' obligation not to recognize or assist in maintaining the illegal situation resulting from the occupation, including refraining from supplying weapons or equipment that could be used in further violations.

The Ministry called on the international community to take practical and effective measures to implement the provisions of the resolution. This includes ensuring legal accountability for Israeli occupation forces, settlers, and all those who incite crimes against the Palestinian people and their land, supporting relevant international mechanisms, and enabling victims to access effective remedies. The Ministry stressed that such steps are essential to ending ongoing violations, achieving justice, and safeguarding the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people.