UN Rights Observer: Israel Using ‘Collective Punishment’ Against Palestinians

The Times of Israel reports:

The UN’s human rights rapporteur in the Palestinian territories accused Israeli security forces of using excessive force against Palestinians, and called on Israel to investigate and prosecute perpetrators, Reuters reported.

“The upsurge in violence is a grim reminder of the unsustainable human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and the volatile environment it engenders,” Makarim Wibisono said in his final Human Rights Council report.

Wibisono tendered his resignation from the position as special rapporteur on human rights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip last month. He effectively steps down at the end of March after starting in the position in June 2014.

He said in his resignation letter that his “efforts to help improve the lives of Palestinian victims of violations under the Israeli occupation have been frustrated every step of the way” because Israel didn’t give him access to the Palestinian territories.

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