News / Palestine

UN decries 'excessive' use of force by Israel against Palestinians

Tuesday, 15 December 2015 5:22 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 15 December 2015 5:22 PM ]

Israeli soldiers gather around the body of a Palestinian man after killing him at the illegal settlement of Beit Hadassah in the center of the occupied city of al-Khalil (Hebron), on October 29, 2015. (AFP photo)

The United Nations has strongly denounced the Tel Aviv regime for using "excessive use of force" to curb the ongoing Palestinian uprising across the occupied lands.

Cecile Pouilly, spokeswoman for the UN human rights office, on Tuesday warned that "the response from Israeli security forces has resulted in alleged attackers, protesters and even bystanders being killed and injured."

"We again voice deep concern over reports of excessive use of force by Israeli forces,” she said.

The senior UN rights official demanded an independent investigation into killing of all Palestinians by Israeli forces.

Pouilly also reiterated that "all instances of the use of force resulting in death or injury by law enforcement officers should be the subject of prompt, independent and impartial investigations."

Cecile Pouilly, spokeswoman for the UN human rights office

The UN official also warned the Israeli regime that "punitive demolitions of Palestinian houses and the withholding of bodies of alleged attackers from their families can only aggravate this situation."

In recent months, Israeli forces have destroyed the family homes of several Palestinians for allegedly attacking Israelis.

"We continue to be gravely concerned at the unrelenting violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in Israel," Pouilly said, adding, "We call on both Israeli and Palestinian leaders to act decisively to de-escalate the situation."

Also on Monday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blamed the escalation of tensions in the occupied Palestinian territories on Israel’s continued aggression and its illegal settlement activities.

The Israeli regime’s imposition of restrictions in August on the entry of Palestinian worshipers to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds (Jerusalem) has become the lightning rod for the surge of recent confrontations.

Palestinians are angry at growing violence by Israeli settlers at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and their attacks on Palestinian properties, saying the Tel Aviv regime seeks to change the status quo of the compound.

More than 120 Palestinians have been killed in the recent escalation of violence since the start of October. Nearly 20 Israelis have also been killed in the clashes.

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