“Quite than doubling down on failed approaches of violence and coercion which have singularly failed prior to now, I urge everybody concerned to step out of the illogic of escalation that has solely led to useless our bodies, shattered lives and utter despair,” he mentioned in a press release.  

Document killings in 2022 

Mr. Türk reported that report numbers of Palestinians have been killed within the occupied West Financial institution, together with East Jerusalem, in 2022, which additionally noticed the very best variety of Israeli fatalities inside Israel and the occupied West Financial institution in years. 

To this point, the brand new 12 months has introduced “extra bloodshed, extra destruction, and the state of affairs continues to develop extra risky”, he added. 

In 2022, the UN human rights workplace (OHCHR) documented 151 killings of Palestinians by Israeli safety forces within the occupied West Financial institution, together with East Jerusalem, plus one boy who was killed by both the Israeli forces or a settler. One other two Palestinians have been killed by Israeli settlers.  

Most of the circumstances involving safety forces spark critical considerations of extreme use of pressure and arbitrary killings.  

Throughout the identical interval, 24 Israelis have been killed inside Israel and within the occupied West Financial institution by Palestinians.

A lethal begin 

In the meantime, 34 Palestinians and 7 Israelis have been killed for the reason that begin of this 12 months. 

Mr. Türk feared current Israeli measures “are solely fuelling additional violations and abuses of human rights legislation and violations of worldwide humanitarian legislation.” 

Following assaults final weekend in East Jerusalem, Israeli authorities moved to seal off the properties of the suspected perpetrators. Greater than 40 folks have been arrested, and two households have been forcibly evicted. 

Israel has proposed different measures, together with revoking id paperwork, citizenship and residency rights, and social safety advantages of relations of suspected attackers, in addition to ramping up home demolitions.  

Fuelling additional violence 

Mr. Türk mentioned such measures, if carried out, could quantity to collective punishment, which is “expressly prohibited” beneath worldwide humanitarian legislation and “incompatible” with worldwide human rights legislation. 

Moreover, Israeli Authorities plans to expedite and broaden the licensing of firearms for civilians, coupled with hateful rhetoric, “can solely result in additional violence and bloodshed”, he added. 

“We all know from expertise that the proliferation of firearms will result in elevated dangers of killings and accidents of each Israelis and Palestinians. The Israeli authorities should work to cut back the provision of firearms in society,” mentioned the Excessive Commissioner. 

Cease fomenting hatred 

Mr. Türk famous that there have already got been a number of studies of violence between Israeli settlers and Palestinians, notably within the occupied West Financial institution over the previous week. 

“Quite than fuelling a worsening spiral of violence, I urge all these holding public workplace or different positions of authority – certainly everybody – to cease utilizing language that incites hatred of ‘the opposite’,” mentioned Mr. Türk. “Such fomenting of hatred is corrosive for all Israelis, Palestinians, all of society.” 

The UN rights chief known as for pressing measures to de-escalate tensions, together with guaranteeing that killings and critical accidents are investigated in accordance with worldwide requirements. 

Attraction to leaders 

“Impunity has been rife, sending a sign that excesses are allowed,” he mentioned. “The duty beneath worldwide human rights legislation is to research lack of life in any context of legislation enforcement – credibly and successfully – no matter whether or not there was an trade of fireside between safety forces and armed people.” 

Mr. Türk urged Israel to make sure that all operations of its safety forces within the occupied West Financial institution, together with East Jerusalem, are carried out with full respect for worldwide human rights legislation. 

“The folks of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory want their leaders to work – urgently – to create situations conducive to a political answer to this protracted, untenable state of affairs”, he mentioned.