GENEVA / GAZA HUMAN RIGHTS

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, through a spokesperson expressed alarm at Israeli operations resulting in the killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, as well as the indiscriminate firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel. UNTV CH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Production Date: 11 July 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: POLITICAL CONDITIONS; POLITICAL MOVEMENTS; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; PEACE AND SECURITY; DISARMAMENT; HUMAN RIGHTS; TERRITORIES OCCUPIED BY ISRAEL
• Geographic Subject: ISRAEL; PALESTINE; PALESTINE
• MAMS Id: 1136235

Description

STORY: GENEVA / GAZA HUMAN RIGHTS
TRT: 2.26
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 11 JULY 2014, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

FILE – RECENT, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Wide shot, aerial view of the Palais des Nations

11 JULY 2014, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2. Wide shot, press room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokeswoman, UN Human Rights Office:
"The High Commissioner warns Israel, Hamas and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza that they have been down this road before and it has only led to death, destruction, distrust and a painful prolongation of the conflict. This time around, once again, civilians are bearing the brunt of the conflict. We urge all sides to steadfastly respect their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law to protect civilians. In particular, attacks must not be directed against civilians or civilian objects, nor should military assets be located in densely populated areas or attacks be launched from such areas."
4. Med shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokeswoman, UN Human Rights Office:
"The Government of Israel must take all possible measures to ensure full respect for the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack, during the conduct of hostilities, as required by international humanitarian law. In all circumstances, they must avoid targeting civilians. However, we have received deeply disturbing reports that many of the civilian casualties, including of children, occurred as a result of strikes on homes. Such reports raise doubt about whether the Israeli airstrikes have been in accordance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.”
6. Med shot, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokeswoman, UN Human Rights Office:
"Even where a home is identified as being used for military purposes, any attack must be proportionate, offer a definite military advantage in the prevailing circumstances at the time, and precautions must be taken."
8. Med shot, journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokeswoman, UN Human Rights Office:
"It is high time that the leaders on all sides abandon their poisonous rhetoric and deadly tit-for-tat behaviour in favour of a peaceful resolution to this impasse."
10. Med shot, journalists
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokeswoman, UN Human Rights Office:
"Military assets should not be located in densely populated areas, nor should attacks be launched from those areas."
11. Wide shot, press room

Storyline

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay today (11 July) expressed alarm at Israeli operations resulting in the killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza, as well as the indiscriminate firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel.

She appealed to all sides to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law.

At a news briefing in Geneva, Pillay's spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani, quoted the High Commissioner’s reminder to Israel, Hamas and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza that they have been down this route before and that it has led only to " death, destruction, distrust and a painful prolongation of the conflict."

Shamdasani told journalists the High Commissioner had noted that civilians were again bearing the brunt of the conflict.

She stressed that attacks should not be directed against civilians or civilian objects and that military assets should not be located in densely populated areas or attacks launched from such areas.

The High Commissioner said Israel should avoid targeting civilians in all circumstances. Her Office had received disturbing reports that many of the civilian casualties, including children occurred as a result of strikes on homes.

Such reports, the spokeswoman said raised serious doubts about whether the Israeli strikes have been in accordance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

"Even when a home is identified as being used for military purposes, any attack must be proportionate, offer a definite military advantage in the circumstances and precautions must be taken"

The High Commissioner also emphasized that military assets should not be launched in densely populated areas, not attacks launched from those areas.

"It is high time, for the leaders on all sides to abandon their poisonous rhetoric and deadly tit-for-tat behaviour in favour of a peaceful solution to this impasse," Shamdasani said on the High Commissioner's behalf.