Israel Seeks to Minimise Palestine Population: UN Panel Chair, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• Justice Srinivasan Muralidhar, chair of the UN-appointed Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, stated Israel's policy aims to maximize occupation and minimize the Palestinian population.
• The Commission found evidence of genocidal crimes in Gaza, including deliberate killings, destruction of life conditions, and attacks targeting children.
• The pattern of attacks observed in Gaza is reportedly being replicated in the West Bank, leading to the largest displacement of Palestinians since 1967.
• Justice Muralidhar highlighted that Israel now controls nearly 70% of Gaza's territory, confining the Palestinian population to the remaining area.
• He urged the international community to pursue accountability through universal jurisdiction and discourage military cooperation with Israel, noting India's supply of small arms.

Detailed Insights:

• The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory was established by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate violations in the region.
• The Commission's findings suggest a systematic strategy to prevent Palestinians from continuing as a group, evident in targeting children and preventing childbirth.
• The displacement in the West Bank is primarily driven by the Israeli state, with settlers reportedly encouraged and supported by Israeli security forces.
• Historically, the proposed 1947-49 two-state arrangement allocated 53% of land to Arabs and 47% to Israelis, a distribution now significantly reversed.
• Gaza's approximately two million residents face severe humanitarian conditions, lacking basic necessities like drinking water, sanitation, healthcare, and education.
• The Commission documented instances of Israeli forces killing unarmed Palestinians, including an eight-month pregnant woman, with attacks often targeting the head and neck.
• Israel has consistently rejected the Commission's reports, accusing investigators of bias and refusing to cooperate with their inquiries.
• India has not yet responded to the Commission's reports, despite being mentioned as a supplier of small arms to Israel.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory: A UN-mandated body investigating human rights violations in the region.
• Universal Jurisdiction: A legal principle allowing states to prosecute individuals for certain international crimes, regardless of where the crime was committed.
• Two-state solution: A proposed resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, envisioning two independent states for two peoples.
• Genocidal Crimes: Acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.