Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem

Year

2019

UN Body

Human Rights Council

Session

40

Session Type

HRC Regular

Agenda Item

7

Country Concerned

Israel

Condemnatory

Yes

Analysis

  • This one-sided resolution accuses Israel of "systematic violation" of the human rights of Palestinians and condemns it for "excessive use of force" against the Palestinians. While the resolution also mentions terrorism and incitement, it does so in the context of condemning Israel and does not attribute responsibility to Palestinian actors. Similarly, a one-line condemnation of rocket attacks in a six-page resolution, fails to attribute responsibility to Hamas or other Palestinian terrorist groups. Also, the resolution contains no praise.
  • Moreover, the resolution was adopted under Item 7, the discriminatory Agenda Item which singles out Israel for censure, signaling criticism of Israel.

Main Sponsors

Organization of Islamic Cooperation

Vote

Yes - 39, No - 3, Abstain - 5, Absent - 0

Key Praise

None

Key Criticism

  • "Expressing grave concern at the continuing violations of international humanitarian law and the systematic violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people by Israel, the occupying Power..."
  • "Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, withdraw from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, so as to enable the Palestinian people to exercise its universally recognized right to self-determination..."
  • "Reiterates that all measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, in violation of the relevant provisions of the Geneva Convention...are illegal and have no validity."
  • "Also demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease all practices and actions that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people..."
  • "Demands that Israel, the occupying Power, cease immediately its imposition of prolonged closures and economic and movement restrictions, including those amounting to a blockade on the Gaza Strip..."

Full Vote

  • Yes39

    • Afghanistan
    • Angola
    • Argentina
    • Austria
    • Bahamas
    • Bahrain
    • Bangladesh
    • Brazil
    • Bulgaria
    • Burkina Faso
    • Chile
    • China
    • Croatia
    • Cuba
    • Czechia
    • Egypt
    • Eritrea
    • Fiji
    • Iceland
    • India
    • Iraq
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • Mexico
    • Nepal
    • Nigeria
    • Pakistan
    • Peru
    • Philippines
    • Qatar
    • Saudi Arabia
    • Senegal
    • Slovakia
    • Somalia
    • South Africa
    • Spain
    • Tunisia
    • Ukraine
    • Uruguay
  • No3

    • Australia
    • Denmark
    • United Kingdom
  • Abstain5

    • Cameroon
    • Democratic Republic of Congo
    • Hungary
    • Rwanda
    • Togo
  • Absent0