UN ‘deeply concerned’ Israel using ‘unlawful lethal force’ in West Bank
UN ‘deeply concerned’ Israel using ‘unlawful lethal force’ in West Bank
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UN human rights office criticises use of ‘methods and means used for war fighting’ in assault on city of Jenin. The UN has expressed concern that the ceasefire in Gaza could be endangered by Israel’s assault on the West Bank city of Jenin, which has involved what the UN human rights spokesperson labelled “unnecessary or disproportionate use of force”.
Thameen al-Kheetan of the UN human rights office called Israeli tactics in Jenin “deadly operations”, after Israel targeted a refugee camp in the centre of the city and besieged a nearby hospital. “We are deeply concerned by the use of unlawful lethal force in Jenin, in the occupied West Bank,” he said on Friday, criticising “methods and means developed for war fighting, in violation of human rights law … this includes multiple airstrikes and apparently random shooting at unarmed residents attempting to flee or find safety.”.
Israeli forces continued a sweeping crackdown across the West Bank as the assault on the Jenin refugee camp continued, in an operation Israel has called “Iron Wall”. Security forces raided towns around Nablus and Jenin, while the Palestinian news agency Wafa said Israeli military bulldozers moved deeper into the Jenin refugee camp and destroyed several homes. Hundreds have fled the Jenin refugee camp and surrounding areas since Israeli forces began an operation there four days ago.
Kheetan said the UN human rights office had verified that more than 12 Palestinians had been killed and at least 40 injured since the Israeli assault on Jenin began, adding that the majority were reportedly unarmed. Medics in the governmental hospital close to the camp said their staff had been wounded after being shot with live ammunition.
