On 29 February 2024, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights addressed the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council, which is currently holding its 55th regular session. Al Mezan urged the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk, to acknowledge Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and to employ all tools and powers available to his mandate to ensure the international community’s compliance with its legal and moral obligations under the Genocide Convention. 

As part of its regular engagement with the Council, Al Mezan delivered an oral intervention under Agenda  Item 2 during the interactive dialogue with High Commissioner Türk, who presented his office’s annual report on the "Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice". 

In a statement delivered today, Al Mezan expressed deep concern regarding the High Commissioner’s omission of the term ‘genocide’ in the report, despite the International Court of Justice having established that there is a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza—a position also supported and echoed by several UN independent experts. 

Additionally, Al Mezan underscored the report's failure to provide the necessary context to the ongoing genocide, notably by neglecting to address Israel’s settler-colonialism, apartheid, illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and the denial of Palestinian self-determination.

The statement comes at a critical time for the Palestinian people, particularly those in Gaza, who are facing Israel’s relentless and uninhibited aggression, reaching levels of violence and displacement unprecedented since 1948. In nearly five months, Israel has killed over 30,000 Palestinians; damaged or destroyed most of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure; and caused the forcible displacement of about 85’% of Gaza’s population. Currently, nearly 1.5 million Palestinians crammed in Rafah are contending with an immense man-made humanitarian crisis, compounded by the imminent threat of an Israeli ground invasion that portends additional devastation and thousands more killings.

Below is the full statement:

Mr. High Commissioner,

As we speak, Israel's genocide in Gaza continues unabated. In nearly five months, Israel has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians; damaged or destroyed most of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure; and forcibly displaced around 85% of Gaza’s population. Nearly 1.5 million Palestinians crammed in Rafah face the threat of an Israeli ground invasion that will kill thousands more.

In this context, Al Mezan finds the annual report issued by your office particularly concerning. The absence of the term 'genocide' is worrying, especially considering that the International Court of Justice has established a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza and that UN independent experts have issued similar warnings.

While we acknowledge the temporal scope of the report, the absence of any reference to the ICJ proceedings is worrisome. It underscores a lack of awareness regarding the limited avenues for accountability available to Palestinians, especially given Israel’s complete impunity.

The report also neglects to contextualize the ongoing genocide by failing to address Israel’s settler-colonialism, apartheid, illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, and denial of Palestinian self-determination.

Therefore, we urge you to fulfil your duties promptly and utilize all available powers to ensure the international community complies with its legal and moral obligations under the Genocide Convention. We urge you, High Commissioner, to immediately issue a statement warning the international community, at the very least, about the imminent risk of genocide in Gaza.

Silence and inaction are not acceptable. The existence of Palestinians in Gaza is at stake.