Amnesty International is deeply concerned about recent incidents in which Israeli security forces have used repeated, unwarranted and excessive force against Palestinian protesters in occupied East Jerusalem following four days of violence in which 840 Palestinians were injured. At least 21 Israeli police officers and seven Israeli civilians were also injured, according to Israeli police.
National Director, Sam Klintworth, has written to Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, and ask her to call on:
- Israel to immediately halt forced evictions in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah and end the ongoing forced displacement of Palestinians from East Jerusalem, and
- Israel to use all opportunities available to hold Israel accountable for its systematic violations under international law, and
- United Nations Security Council members to convene an open session and for the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process to brief member states.
Amnesty International also remains deeply disappointed that the Australian government did not support the investigation of alleged war crimes in Occupied Palestinian Territory by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Australia’s non-recognition of Palestine as a State should not preclude any opportunity for serious allegations to be investigated. The question at hand is not about statehood, it is about the human rights of people in OPT.
