“The use of herbicides raises questions about the effects on local agricultural lands and how this could affect the return of civilians to their homes and livelihoods. in the long term,” said Alessandra Vellucci, director of the UN Information Service in Geneva.
Reiterating statements made by the United Nations spokesperson in New York on Thursday, Ms. Vellucci highlighted the obligations of all parties under international humanitarian law. “Any IDF (Israel Defense Forces) activity north of the Blue Line is a violation of resolution 1701”he told reporters.
OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan insisted that The reports called for further investigation “to confirm the nature of the chemicals.” that had been used. “Attacks on farmland and water sources pose a serious…humanitarian risk,” he said.
Reports attributed to Lebanese authorities indicate that the herbicide is glyphosate, and that samples taken in fumigated areas where there is dense vegetation showed concentrations of 20 to 30 times the recommended level.
Warning about the occupied West Bank
The UN human rights official also expressed deep concern about developments in the occupied West Bank, warning that new Israeli operations and settlements risk undermining a viable Palestinian state.
Since last year, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forcibly displaced in the occupied West Bank.
This includes three refugee camps affected by Israel’s militarized “Iron Wall” operation that uprooted more than 32,000 people from the Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams camps.
They still cannot return to their homes and Israeli forces have destroyed their houses, Al-Kheetan said.
Israel’s new security operations affecting Palestinians have included a campaign in occupied East Jerusalem, including at least two major operations targeting two Palestinian communities, according to the UN human rights office, OHCHR.
“In the Shu’fat refugee camp, They raided dozens of houses and shops, detained at least 25 Palestinians, confiscated property and confiscated 10 private vehicles.”explained Mr. Al-Kheetan.
“In another large-scale operation, targeting the Kafr Aqab neighborhood and the borders of the Qalandiya refugee camp, Israeli security forces allegedly demolished 70 Palestinian structures. “This appears to be preparation for major settlement projects in the area.”
This comes on top of “relentless violence” by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, “with the support and participation of Israeli security forces,” the UN human rights office said, maintaining that Israeli settlements are expanding “at a pace never seen before” in violation of international law.
OHCHR said that in December, Israeli authorities requested tenders for the construction of more than 3,000 settlement units in the area between three of the most important Palestinian urban centers: East Jerusalem, Ramallah and Bethlehem.
Responding to a question about the Israeli “E1 plan” that would supposedly separate the northern and southern West Bank from East Jerusalem, Mr. Al-Kheetan warned that it “risks separating Palestinian communities from each other and therefore seriously affecting the viability of a Palestinian state… the bottom line is that all settlements must be evacuated and settlement activity must cease.”