The International Commission (ICSPR) calls for the protection of human rights in Palestine, an end to the genocide, and the achievement of justice on the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Date: December 10, 2024

Press Statement
On the Occasion of the Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The International Commission (ICSPR) calls for the protection of human rights in Palestine, an end to the genocide, and the achievement of justice on the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR) extends its greetings to human rights defenders, activists, freedom fighters worldwide, and advocates of humanity on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, commemorated annually on December 10. This day, designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, aims to highlight the progress made in promoting and respecting human rights while emphasizing global solidarity with victims of violations. It serves as a constant reminder of the moral and legal obligations upon the international community to uphold the rights enshrined in the UDHR, contributing to the prevention of further human rights abuses.

Today, the world observes the 76th anniversary of the UDHR amidst heinous and brutal violations of human rights in the Gaza Strip perpetrated by Israel in full view of the international community. Israel continues to engage in one of the most egregious acts of genocide, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid against the Palestinian people in Gaza. This occurs with the complicity of the United States, certain European countries with colonial histories, and the glaring inability of the international community to halt Israeli crimes and protect human rights.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has waged an ongoing aggression, now in its 431st consecutive day. This has resulted in the martyrdom and disappearance of over 60,000 Palestinians, with 107,000 injured, the majority being civilians, including children and women. Moreover, most of Gaza’s population has been forcibly displaced, with 86% of homes, infrastructure, and humanitarian facilities destroyed. Israel continues to impose collective punishment, a suffocating blockade, and starvation tactics by obstructing humanitarian aid, turning civilian life into a humanitarian catastrophe. This systematic oppression violates a wide range of political, civil, economic, social, and cultural rights, stripping Palestinians of the protections guaranteed under the UDHR, international standards, and international humanitarian law.

In the West Bank and Jerusalem, Israeli forces and settler militias continue their aggression through raids on cities, camps, and villages, most notably targeting civilians and committing extrajudicial killings. These actions have resulted in the deaths of 674 individuals, injuries to 7,000 others, and the arbitrary detention of over 11,000 civilians. Further violations include settlement expansion, land confiscation, property demolition, fragmentation of the West Bank with barriers, and obstructing Palestinians’ right to self-determination and statehood. Additionally, there are violations of religious freedom, assaults on Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the imposition of spatial and temporal divisions in a concerted effort to Judaize Jerusalem. Economic control and the piracy of Palestinian public funds exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.

As the global community commemorates International Human Rights Day, ICSPR emphasizes the gravity of Israel’s ongoing genocide, lawlessness, and human rights abuses. The day serves as a renewed opportunity to highlight Palestinian suffering and draw attention to their worsening plight due to the continued deprivation of their fundamental rights. ICSPR urges the international community to transform this occasion into an actionable milestone for ensuring human rights respect in Palestinian territories. This includes ending the genocide in Gaza, providing international protection for Palestinians, and ensuring the flow of humanitarian aid.

ICSPR also reminds UN member states of their obligations to collaborate with the United Nations to promote and respect human rights and freedoms, as stipulated in the UDHR. The international community must exert tangible efforts to end the impunity granted to Israel, impose sanctions, and hold its leaders and soldiers accountable for their international crimes to uphold justice for victims.

ICSPR makes the following demands:

1. ICSPR calls on the international community, particularly the United Nations and other international organizations, to compel Israel to adhere to its obligations under the UDHR, which, despite being non-binding, holds immense moral authority. Israel must be held accountable for its ongoing genocide and grave crimes in Palestine, especially in Gaza, and civilians must be protected.
2. ICSPR urges the International Court of Justice to expedite its review of Israel’s acts of genocide and ensure compensation for victims. Furthermore, the International Criminal Court must broaden its arrest warrants to encompass all Israeli leaders and collaborators, ensuring international justice and fairness for victims of genocide.
3. ICSPR calls on all nations and international humanitarian organizations to work diligently to secure safe corridors for the flow of humanitarian aid, medical supplies, and the evacuation of the injured. Efforts must also ensure an end to starvation, massacres, and ethnic cleansing, particularly in northern Gaza.

4. ICSPR stresses that the international community is now more obligated than ever to shoulder its legal and moral responsibilities, individually and collectively. Practical measures must be taken to uphold human rights, ensure justice, and adhere to international law and norms, including providing international protection, ending the occupation, and guaranteeing the respect of Palestinian rights.