GENEVA / GAZA DEMONSTRATIONS

The UN human rights office (OHCHR) said there were “strong indications” that Israeli security forces used excessive force against demonstrators in Gaza last week “given the large number of injuries and deaths, the ominous statements made by Israeli authorities in the days leading up to the protest.” UNTV CH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:58
• Production Date: 6 April 2018
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: CONFLICT SITUATION; HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: ISRAEL; PALESTINE
• MAMS Id: 2124521
• Parent Id: 2124521
• Alternate Title: unifeed180406a

Description

STORY: GENEVA / GAZA DEMONSTRATIONS
TRT: 01:58
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 06 APRIL 2018, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Wide shot, Palais des Nations exterior

06 APRIL 2018, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2. Wide shot, press room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The 16 people were killed by live fire during protests, with reports indicating that of the more than 1,000 others injured, hundreds were also hit by live ammunition.”
4. Close up, journalist typing
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Given the large number of injuries and deaths, the ominous statements made by Israeli authorities in the days leading up to the protest, as well as indications that the individuals killed or wounded were unarmed or did not pose a serious threat to well-protected security forces – and in some cases were actually running away from the green line fence – there are strong indications that security forces used excessive force.”
6. Wide shot, journalists
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“In accordance with international human rights law, firearms may be used only in cases of extreme necessity, as a last resort, and in response to an imminent threat of death or risk of serious injury.”
8. Med shot, journalist
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“An attempt to approach or cross the green-line fence by itself certainly does not amount to a threat to life or serious injury that would justify the use of live ammunition.”
10. Med shot, journalist
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Liz Throssell, Spokesperson, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Israel has denied that excessive use of force was used. What we have, from what we have documented, it is certainly that the killings and the injuries do actually point to an excessive of force, in particular lethal force, and that’s in a situation where there was no threat of death or serious injury and that’s why we’ve made this call.”
12. Various shots, journalists

Storyline

The UN human rights office (OHCHR) said there were “strong indications” that Israeli security forces used excessive force against demonstrators in Gaza last week “given the large number of injuries and deaths, the ominous statements made by Israeli authorities in the days leading up to the protest.”

Speaking to reporters in Geneva today (06 Apr), OHCHR spokesperson Liz Throssell the 16 deaths in the protest were “killed by live fire, with reports indicating that of the more than 1,000 others injured, hundreds were also hit by live ammunition.” She said there were indications that those killed and injured were “unarmed or did not pose a serious threat to well-protected security forces.”

Throssell said, “An attempt to approach or cross the green-line fence by itself certainly does not amount to a threat to life or serious injury that would justify the use of live ammunition.” She reminded that, according to international law, firearms may be used “only in cases of extreme necessity, as a last resort, and in response to an imminent threat of death or risk of serious injury.”

The OHCHR spokesperson said Israel has denied the use of excessive force but from what her office documented, “it is certainly that the killings and the injuries do actually point to an excessive of force, in particular lethal force, and that’s in a situation where there was no threat of death or serious injury and that’s why we’ve made this call.”

Thousands of Palestinians had marched to Gaza’s border, also known as the green line, last Friday to protest the long-standing blockade of the enclave. OHCHR called on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to do all what is in their power to prevent further loss of life as new demonstrations are planned in Gaza.