Rabat – Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, has accused Israel of systemically violating Palestinians’ rights.
In a new report about the alarming deterioration in the human rights situation in Palestine, which she presented before the United Nations Human Rights Council on Monday, Albanese said that there are currently 5000 Palestinians in Israeli prisons. 1100 of these prisoners are being held without charge or trial while 160 are children, the UN expert revealed, describing Israel as converting Palestinian territory into what can be described as an outdoor prison.
This serious allegation raises concerns about the living conditions and humanitarian rights of Palestinians residing in these areas.
The report Albanese presented before the UN rights council highlights the restrictions placed on Palestinians, which limit their freedom of movement and access to basic services. These limitations contribute to a deteriorating economic situation and overall quality of life for the Palestinian population.
In addition, Fransesca Albanese told the council on Monday that over 800,000 Palestinians have been imprisoned in Israeli prisons since 1967, including tens of thousands of children.
Summarizing Albanese’s findings, a systemic on the UN Human Rights council’s website described this systematic confinement, surveillance, and discipline of Palestinians as international crimes that warrant an immediate investigation.
The actions denounced in the UN rapporteur’s report not only raise questions regarding human rights violations but also hinder any prospect of peace and stability in the region, added the statement.
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During her presentation, Albanese described Israel’s military occupation as turning the entire Palestinian territory into an open-air prison. She called on the end of the apartheid-like system and urged accountability for those responsible for such settlements.
“The systemic and widespread discriminatory Israeli policies and practices against the Palestinians amount to the crime of apartheid under international law.”
“The transformation of the Gaza Strip into a heavily populated, impoverished enclave controlled by Israel through a suffocating sea, land and air blockade, is part and parcel of that same settler-colonial design,” She added
Recently, the UN Human Rights Office updated its database to include the names of companies involved in settlement construction. This list includes mostly Israeli companies, as well as some from other countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Spain, and Luxembourg.
Israel was notably absent during Albanese’s presentation, and it has repeatedly rejected criticism from the UN regarding the conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory. The United Nations, along with several other international organizations, has repeatedly called on Israel to address these concerns and work towards finding a just and lasting resolution to the conflict.
