OHCHR / OPT ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS - ARABIC

The Government of Israel has ramped up settlement of the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, transferring its own population into the territory and unlawfully demolishing Palestinian homes. At the same time settler violence has increased with continued impunity, the UN Human Rights Office said on Tuesday. OHCHR / UNTV CH

• Video Length: 00:02:16
• Production Date: 18 March 2025
• Asset Language: Arabic
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: PALESTINE; ISRAEL
• MAMS Id: 3351929
• Parent Id: 3351929
• Alternate Title: unifeed250318d

Description

STORY: OHCHR / OPT ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS - ARABIC
TRT: 02:16
SOURCE: OHCHR / UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / NATS

DATELINE: 18 MARCH 2025, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

1. Various shots, exterior Palais Wilson
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Thameen Al-Kheetan, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The Government of Israel has ramped up settlement of the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, transferring its own population into the territory and unlawfully demolishing Palestinian homes. At the same time settler violence has increased with continued impunity. A report published by our Office today also outlines the ongoing transfer of powers over the Occupied Palestinian Territory from the Israeli military to the government. By doing that, the Israeli government is facilitating the advancement of settlements in the West Bank, and the steady integration of this occupied territory into the State of Israel, the report finds. Israel’s settlement policy, its acts of annexation, and related discriminatory legislation and measures are in breach of international law, and violate Palestinians’ right to self-determination. The transfer by Israel of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies amounts to a war crime. The report also points to plans to increase the provision of Israeli Government services in settlements. This further institutionalises long-standing patterns of systematic discrimination, segregation, oppression, domination, violence and other inhumane acts against the Palestinian people. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk repeats that Israel must immediately and completely cease all settlement activities and evacuate all settlers, stop the forcible transfer of the Palestinian population, and prevent and punish attacks by its security forces and settlers.”

Storyline

The Government of Israel has ramped up settlement of the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, transferring its own population into the territory and unlawfully demolishing Palestinian homes. At the same time settler violence has increased with continued impunity, the UN Human Rights Office said on Tuesday (18 Mar).

“Israel’s settlement policy, its acts of annexation, and related discriminatory legislation and measures are in breach of international law and violate Palestinians’ right to self-determination,” spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said in a statement.

Al-Kheetan was presenting a report by the UN Human Rights Office that outlines the ongoing transfer of powers over the Occupied Palestinian Territory from the Israeli military to the government.

“The transfer by Israel of parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies amounts to a war crime,” the spokesperson said.

The report, which covers a 12-month period up to the end of October 2024, refers to plans to construct over 20,000 housing units in new or existing Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem alone, according to Israeli non-governmental organisations.

In East Jerusalem, 214 Palestinian properties and structures have been demolished. Over 10,300 units within existing Israeli settlements in the rest of the West Bank are in the pipeline, and an unprecedented 49 new Israeli outposts have been established.

“The report also points to plans to increase the provision of Israeli Government services in settlements. This further institutionalises long-standing patterns of systematic discrimination, segregation, oppression, domination, violence and other inhumane acts against the Palestinian people,” Al-Kheetan said.

The current climate has empowered Israeli settlers to attack Palestinians, force them from their homes, and seize their land. During the reporting period, 612 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, by Israeli security forces and settlers. Twenty-four Israelis were also killed in alleged attacks or clashes with Palestinians.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk repeated that “Israel must immediately and completely cease all settlement activities and evacuate all settlers, stop the forcible transfer of the Palestinian population, and prevent and punish attacks by its security forces and settlers,” the Spokesperson said.