occupied Palestinian territory: The human rights situation between 12 June and 26 August 2014 in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the escalation in hostilities between the State of Israel and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza (A/HRC/28/80/Add.1)

Human Rights Council
Twenty-eighth session
Agenda items 2 and 7
Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights and reports of the Office of the
High Commissioner and the Secretary-General
Human rights situation in Palestine and other
occupied Arab territories

I. Introduction

1. This addendum presents information on alleged violations of international law related to events in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip between 12 June and 26 August 2014. It provides additional information to the Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the implementation of resolution S-21/1 (A/HRC/27/76) of 19 September 2014, based on OHCHR monitoring in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

2. Following the kidnapping, on 12 June, of three Israeli youths who were later found murdered near Hebron, Israeli security forces launched an operation involving mass arrests of individuals perceived to be associated with Hamas, amid a climate of hatred in some parts of Israeli and Palestinian society. This and the murder, on 2 July, of a 16-year-old Palestinian youth, in apparent revenge for the murder of the three Israelis, in turn provoked widespread clashes between Palestinians and Israeli Security Forces (ISF), resulting in many Palestinian deaths and injuries, as well as injuries to ISF officers.

3. This situation formed the backdrop to the military escalation in Gaza, where an increase in hostilities between Israel on the one hand, and Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on the other, had already been noted in early June when the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) carried out targeted killings of Palestinians, and Palestinian armed groups increased mortar and rocket fire towards Israel. The situation continued to deteriorate, and Israel formally launched a military operation, which lasted from 7 July until the final ceasefire on 26 August.

4. This period saw destruction in Gaza on an unprecedented scale, resulting in a huge loss of life, disproportionately affecting civilians, and massive damage to homes, infrastructure, hospitals and schools. The response by the ISF to widespread protests against the military operation in Gaza by Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, resulted in numerous Palestinian deaths and many more injuries.

5. Throughout the events, OHCHR maintained a continued monitoring presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In Gaza, the overwhelming number of alleged violations, coupled with the prevailing security situation during the escalation, which severely restricted staff movements, made difficult the gathering of first-hand information or the verification of second-hand information on individual incidents. In addition, OHCHR has encountered difficulties in Gaza gathering information about alleged violations by Palestinian armed groups, some witnesses apparently fearing reprisals or reluctant to criticize the actions of armed groups. Since the 26 August ceasefire, conditions have allowed verification to proceed. It will be for the independent, international commission of inquiry, established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S-21/1, to further establish the facts and circumstances of possible violations and to identify responsibilities.