The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Richard Falk, has called for an investigation into the “apparently deliberate” attacks on civilian targets during the recent Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip.
Falk has just ended a week-long visit to the region aimed at comprehensively appraising the impact of the long term Israeli occupation and blockade on Gaza.
The UN Special Rapporteur mentioned that during his visit, he met with numerous families that had survived the bombing of their homes. He also touched on the widespread sentiment expressed by Palestinians that Israel is above the law and that it will continue to benefit from its impunity from punishment despite its continual violation of human rights and international law.
He called on the international community to exert continual pressure on Israel to ensure full implementation of the ceasefire agreement. He indicated that worldwide support for the UN General Assembly’s recent decision to make Palestine a non-member observer state of the UN should serve as starting point for more determined international protection of Palestinian rights.
Falk stressed the importance of addressing these fundamental issues in the near future as, according to a UN report, by the year 2020 the Gaza Strip will be uninhabitable.
The UN Special Rapporteur is expected to submit a report on his recent visit to the Human Rights Council this coming June.