United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for an end to the sharp escalation of deadly violence in the occupied West Bank since October 7, and urged accountability for the killing of more than 500 Palestinians at the hands of occupation forces and settlers.

Turk said in a statement, today, Tuesday, that the residents of the occupied West Bank are exposed day after day to unprecedented bloodshed. It is completely illogical for this large number of lives to be claimed in this brutal manner.

He added that killing, destruction, and widespread violations of human rights are unacceptable, and must stop immediately. Israel must not only adopt rules of engagement that are fully consistent with applicable human rights rules and standards, but also strengthen their application, and comprehensively and independently investigate any allegation of unlawful killing and hold those responsible accountable. about him.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights stressed that impunity for such crimes has been common for a very long time in the occupied West Bank, and has created an environment conducive to more unlawful killings by Israeli forces. International law must be respected and applied, and international law must be guaranteed. Accounting.

He continued: "Israeli forces have traditionally used lethal force as a first resort against Palestinian demonstrators who throw stones, Molotov cocktails, and firecrackers at their armor, in cases where those who were shot did not represent an imminent threat to life. The spread of Palestinian deaths after being shot in the upper part of the country indicates From their bodies, along with the pattern of preventing the provision of medical assistance to the injured, to the intent to kill in violation of the right to life, and not to the gradual use of force and an attempt to calm the tense situation.”

The High Commissioner said that among the verification of deaths and in-depth monitoring of more than 80 cases by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, there are continuing violations of international human rights law through the use of force by Israeli forces, the unnecessary and disproportionate use of proxy force, and the increase in targeted and planned killings. for him.

He concluded: The violence practiced by Israeli forces and settlers against the backdrop of the ongoing killing and destruction in Gaza has sown fear and insecurity among Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.