Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) 12 July 2006
Two Palestinian militants were extrajudicially killed and another was injured on April 23 in Bethlehem. One of the militants was killed instantly, while the other died later of his wounds. (MaanImages/Magnus Johansson)
The Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions of the United Nations Human Rights Council issued the following statement today:
Philip Alston, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, today emphasized the “importance of ensuring accountability in relation to the killings that have taken place in recent weeks in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and in Israel”.
“Even in the midst of crisis, indeed especially in times of crisis, it is essential to ensure that the applicable rules of international human rights and humanitarian law are respected”, Mr. Alston said.
Regarding the implications of the latest developments in relation to Lebanon, the Special Rapporteur said the need for accountability has become “ever more pressing in light of these alarming developments”.
An important component of such accountability is cooperation with the relevant international procedures set up by the Human Rights Council, he added.
The Special Rapporteur recalled that he had sought an invitation to visit both Israel and the OPT from the respective authorities in the middle of June. The Palestinian Authority had responded favourably, he said, and he was awaiting an official reply from the Government of Israel.
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