GENEVA / PILLAY GAZA

The UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay has called onIsrael, Hamas and all Palestinian armed groups not to target civilians in the current conflict, adding that not abiding by the principles of international humanitarian law “may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.” UNTV CH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:43
• Production Date: 23 July 2014
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR; UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - UNHRC
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: ISRAEL; PALESTINE
• MAMS Id: 1141234

Description

STORY: GENEVA / PILLAY GAZA
TRT: 2.43
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 23 JULY 2014, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, exterior of Palais des Nations
2. Wide shot, Human Rights Council meeting room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“I unequivocally reiterate to all actors in this conflict that civilians must not be targeted. It is imperative that Israel, Hamas and all Palestinian armed groups strictly abide by applicable norms of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. This entails applying the principles of distinction between civilians and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives; proportionality; and precautions in attack. Respect for the right to life of civilians, including children, should be a foremost consideration. Not abiding by these principles may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”
4. Med shot, delegates
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“The current conflict and destruction comes at a time when Gaza is still recovering from repeated escalations of hostilities with Israel. The crippling effects of the Israeli blockade and other measures linked to the Israeli occupation of Gaza suppress the ability of the people to go about their daily lives and prevent them from rebuilding their lives and communities after repeated military operations. I reiterate my numerous calls for this blockade to be lifted once and for all.”
6. Med shot, delegates
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Navi Pillay, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“The scenes we witness from afar, here in Geneva or around the world, via the 24-hour news channels and social media, provide only brief glimpses of the daily reality of conflict for Palestinians and for Israelis. A seven-year old Palestinian child in Gaza has never known life outside occupation and is already living through her or his third experience of a major Israeli military operation, including the so-called operations ‘Cast Lead’ in 2009 and ‘Pillar of Defense’ in 2012, with all the unimaginable death, destruction, terror and the life-long consequences that they inflicted. Both Palestinians and Israelis deserve better than a life of chronic insecurity and recurring escalation in hostilities.”
8. Wide shot, Human Rights Council meeting room

Storyline

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has called on Israel, Hamas and all Palestinian armed groups not to target civilians in the current conflict.

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council at the start of a special session to discuss the situation in Gaza, Navi Pillay said that all sides must respect the right to life of civilians.

She stressed “respect for the right to life of civilians, including children, should be a foremost consideration. Not abiding by these principles may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

Pillay also reiterated calls for the Israeli economic blockade of the Gaza Strip to be lifted immediately.

She said that “the crippling effects of the Israeli blockade and other measures linked to the Israeli occupation of Gaza suppress the ability of the people to go about their daily lives and prevent them from rebuilding their lives and communities after repeated military operations.”

Pillay also noted that both Palestinians and Israelis deserve a peaceful existence, instead of a life of ‘chronic insecurity and recurring escalation in hostilities.

She pointed that a seven-year-old Palestinian child in Gaza has never known life outside occupation and is now living through his or her third experience of a major Israeli military operation.

Pillay also called on the UN Security Council and all states with influence to do more to end the conflict.

She stressed that powerful entities, such as the Security Council, and individual States with serious leverage over the must do far more to bring the conflict to an end.