NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — Palestinians are at serious risk of ethnic cleansing at the hands of Israel, as has happened in the past, and the ongoing military actions of the Israeli armed forces violate international law, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, said in a statement released by the Office of the High Commissioner UN Human Rights (OHCHR).
“Israel has already carried out massive ethnic cleansing of Palestinians under the guise of war. Again, in the name of self-defense, Israel is trying to justify what would amount to ethnic cleansing. Any ongoing Israeli military operations go far beyond the scope of international law. The international community must stop these flagrant violations of international rights now, before tragic history repeats itself. Time is of the essence,” she is quoted as saying in the document.
Albanese added that since October 7, 2023, more than 1,900 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 600 children, more than 7,600 have been injured, and more than 423,000 people have been displaced by Israeli strikes.
“The situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel has reached its climax. The UN and its member states must intensify efforts to mediate an immediate ceasefire between the parties before we reach the point of no return,” the UN expert urged.
On the morning of October 7, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented-scale rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, announced by the military wing of the Palestinian Hamas movement. In addition, after massive rocket attacks, the organization’s fighters penetrated into the border areas in southern Israel.
In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Within days of the attack, the Israeli military took control of all settlements near the Gaza border and began conducting air strikes on targets, including civilians, in the strip. Israel also announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip: the supply of water, food, electricity, medicine, and fuel was suspended.
The number of civilian deaths on each side exceeded a thousand, and several thousand Israelis and Palestinians were injured. Including, it was reported about several dead and missing Russians, as well as citizens of other countries. According to various sources, about 150 Israelis may be held captive by Hamas.
The Russian Foreign Ministry called on the parties to stop hostilities. According to the position of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the settlement of the Middle East crisis is possible only on the basis of a “two-state” formula approved by the UN Security Council, which provides for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict, related to the territorial interests of the parties, has been a source of tension and fighting in the region for many decades. A UN decision with the active role of the USSR in 1947 determined the creation of two states – Israel and Palestine, but only the Israeli one was created. Israel, while declaring agreement with the two-state principle, did not completely liberate the Palestinian territories.
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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