General Debate Under Item 6: Universal Periodic Review

Thank you Mr. President,

This is a joint statement by International Lawyers and Geneva International Centre for Justice. We are deeply concerned that Israel’s actions since its last UPR are in contravention to recommendations by Member States and a further testament to the State’s disregard for human rights and international law.

In direct contravention to UPR recommendations, Israel persists in its illegal occupation and the denial of Palestinian self-determination and the rights, including the right of return, of Palestine refugees, and continues its illegal settlement and annexationist activities. Israel rejected recommendations demanding the dismantling of the illegal Separation Wall in accordance with the ICJ advisory opinion and the end to the suffocating Gaza blockade.

(Contrary to recommendations, Palestinian citizens of Israel continue to face discrimination in, inter alia, access to justice, in property and housing rights, employment, education, health care, as well as in participation in political and public affairs.)

The State continues to refuse to abide by its international obligations, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, and continues to violate Palestinians’ fundamental rights, including through excessive and lethal force, the devastating destruction of homes and villages, deportations, closures and curfews, and arbitrary detention under ill-treatment and torture.

Israel has also failed to comply with States’ recommendations to investigate violations, including those amounting to war crimes, and continues to act with impunity. We call upon the international community to hold Israel accountable and force it to comply with its international obligations in the service of real democracy and just peace in the region and beyond.

Thank you.