On 18 March 2021, Al-Haq and partners addressed the Human Rights Council, highlighting the root causes of the prolonged denial of Palestinian rights inherent in Israeli settler-colonialism and apartheid. Al-Haq and partners further called upon the Council to establish a fact-finding mission into Israel’s apartheid regime, and stressed that Third States must take effective steps to ensure justice for Palestinian victims of Israel’s crimes, including by fully cooperating with the ICC. Finally, the delivered-statement urged the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to ensure the annual update of the UN database on business enterprises involved in Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise, and include JCB, CAT and Volvo bulldozers used to demolish Khirbet Humsa al-Fawqa.

Full statement:

Thank you, Madam President,

Rooted in the institutionalised oppression, displacement, and dispossession of the Palestinian people since the start of the ongoing Nakba in 1948, Palestinians continue to experience an ongoing reality of Israeli settler-colonialism and apartheid.

Just last month, the Israeli occupying forces raided Khirbet Humsa al-Fawqa, a Palestinian community located in what Israel has declared as a ‘firing zone’ area, five times. Khirbet Humsa al-Fawqa was previously targeted in November 2020, when the Israeli occupying authorities conducted what was described as “the largest forced displacement incident in over four years,” leaving 72 Palestinians, including 38 children, homeless amidst a global pandemic.

Madam President,

It is high time that the international community recognises the root causes of the prolonged denial of Palestinian rights inherent in Israeli settler-colonialism and apartheid. 

We therefore call on the Human Rights Council to establish an independent Human Rights Council fact-finding mission into Israel’s apartheid regime and associated obligations of states, international organizations and business enterprises.

Third States must take effective steps to ensure justice for Palestinian victims of Israel’s crimes, and fully cooperate with the ICC, ensuring the arrest and transfer to the Hague of persons suspected of international crimes.

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights must ensure the annual update of the UN database on business enterprises involved in Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise, and include JCB, CAT and Volvo bulldozers used to demolish Khirbet Humsa al-Fawqa.

As of time of writing, these calls are supported in a public petition of some 1,500 signatures from all over the world to save Humsa, and a joint public statement of over 550 Palestinian, regional and international organisations.

Thank you.

Joining orgnisations:

1. Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
2. Al Mezan Centre for Human Rights
3. Aldameer Association for Human Rights
4. Al-Haq, Law in the Service of Man
5. Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
6. Human Rights & Democracy Media Center “SHAMS” 
7. Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR)
8. Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies
9. The Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC)