Michael Lynk, Special Rapporteur of the UN, said that the Israeli settlements in the West Bank amount to a war crime.
Lynk called on countries to make it clear to “Israel” that its “illegal occupation” cannot continue at no cost.
On Friday, 9 July, Michael Lynk, the United Nations rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, was speaking at the Human Rights Council of the United Nations in Geneva, which Israel boycotted as it does not recognize Lynk’s mandate and or cooperate with him.
Lynk added saying, “in my report, I conclude that the Israeli settlements do amount to a war crime”.
“I submit to you that this finding compels the international community … to make it clear to Israel that its illegal occupation, and its defiance of international law and international opinion, can and will no longer be cost-free,” he added.
Arab Organisation for Human Rights in the UK (AOHR UK) has repeatedly called on the international community and decision-makers in the world to take concrete measures to stop the increasing settlements in the occupied territories, especially in Jerusalem, “silence on such serious crimes that are described in international law “as war crimes” is unacceptable.
It is worth noting that the International Criminal Court issued a decision on February 5, 2021, confirming its jurisdiction over the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, namely the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which paves the way for the investigation of war crimes committed there.
On March 3, 2021, the International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, Netherlands, announced the opening of an official investigation into possible war crimes in Palestinian territories.
