GENEVA: Pakistan, speaking for Islamic countries, stressed the need for an investigation into Israeli war crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank to pave the way for accountability.
“It is high time that violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including war crimes committed against the Palestinian people, were investigated and accountability followed,” said Human Rights Ambassador Bilal Ahmad, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Offices in Geneva. Council during its general debate on Tuesday.
At the same time, Pakistan’s envoy, speaking on behalf of the OIC countries, expressed “deep distress” over the deteriorating human rights situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir.
“We urge India to abide by the applicable UN Security Council resolutions and implement the recommendations addressed to it in the two reports on Kashmir by OHCHR, the UN Human Rights Office, which need to be updated,” the OIC statement said.
“The Council must heed the consistent observations of the SPMH (Special Procedural Mandate Holders) on human rights violations, impunity and draconian laws in the occupied territory.”
In a statement, Ambassador Ahmad strongly condemned all crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) and
called for the implementation of the interim measures issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and reminded all states of their responsibilities in this regard.
“We reiterate our long-standing call for respect for human rights and international humanitarian law in the OPT, including East Jerusalem,” he said.
“We also call for the repeal of all measures aimed at institutionalizing illegal occupation, apartheid and colonial settlement in the OPT.”
The OIC also called on the Council to work towards ensuring justice and accountability for the Rohingya, including through their safe, dignified and voluntary return to their homes in Myanmar. The OIC, he said, reiterated its full solidarity with Bangladesh and supports calls to assist the country in its efforts to reach a lasting solution.
“The OIC condemns the damage and loss of property caused by Armenia, including cultural heritage and religious sites in the territories of Azerbaijan freed from occupation,” the statement said.
“The OIC reaffirms its full support to the government and people of Azerbaijan and calls on the international community to provide assistance to Azerbaijan for the safe and dignified return of Azerbaijani IDPs (internally displaced persons). “We strongly condemn the acts of religious hatred manifested by the repeated desecration of the Holy Quran,” said Ambassador Ahmad, while stressing the need for states to enact legal measures to address the menace.
