UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calls for investigations into actions of Israeli security forces

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calls for investigations into actions of Israeli security forces
photo: Osama Eid via Flickr, 13-05-2022

16-05-2022

Myrthe Niemeijer

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence 

On Saturday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, released a statement calling for accountability and an end to impunity for the Israeli security forces. Investigations must be held into their actions including killing in the occupied Palestinian territory. 

Ms Bachelet’s statement comes as thousands turned up for the funeral of killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. [1] Video footage demonstrates that her funeral procession on 13 May was disturbed by the Israeli police, with reportedly at least 33 injured. Ms Bschelet denounced this violence as unnecessary and in need of investigation. 

Ms Bachelet further called for “appropriate investigations” into the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh and for “all the killings and serious injuries in the occupied Palestinian territory”. The UN Security Council has also strongly condemned the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh and called for an effective investigation. 

Notes:

[1] More information on the tragic event is available here: https://ghrtv.org/al-jazeera-journalist-killed-during-israeli-army-raid-on-refugee-camp 

Sources and further reading: 

United Nations Human Rights. (2022, 14 May). Israel: UN rights chief calls for end to ‘culture of impunity’. United Nations News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/05/1118272