Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People

The Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories (UNSCIIP), also called Special Committee on Israeli Practices, was established by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2443 (XXIII) of 19 December 1968. UNSCIIP was to monitor "respect for and implementation of human rights in occupied territories." The committee comprises representatives of three member states appointed by the president of the General Assembly.

UNSCIIP's task

The Special Committee was created to investigate Israeli settlements in the occupied territories. It prepares yearly General Assembly draft resolutions and other documents. It reports to the General Assembly through the Fourth Committee on matters related to Israeli settlements, the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Palestinian Right of Return. The latest report was published on 20 September 2024. The mandate of the Special Committee is renewed annually, for example Resolution 2727 of 15 December 1970 and Resolution 2851 of 20 December 1971.

UNSCIIP's achievements

The committee has fulfilled three vital functions:

1) It has defined the Palestinian matter as a political problem that demands a political solution,

2) It offered an opportunity for UN members to voice their opposition to imperialism and show solidarity with the Third World, and

3) It has given a platform for the expression of Palestinian optimism in international law, thereby supporting the UN as a global-utopian initiative.

In June 2019 the committee was composed of Malaysia, Senegal and Sri Lanka.

Israel's reaction

Israel has repeatedly refused to allow the Special Committee access to the disputed territories and has refused to participate in its inquiries.

Latest reports

Date	Symbol	Summary
20/09/2024	A/79/363	In this latest report, the Special Committee expresses grave concerns regarding human rights abuses in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and the Syrian Golan. It asserts that "the policies and practices of Israel during the reporting period are consistent with characteristics of genocide." The Committee observes that Israel's continued actions in Gaza, along with the occupation-cum-annexation of Palestinian and Syrian territories, as well as for its apartheid system, defy United Nations resolutions and International Court of Justice orders, thus eroding the international rules-based system. Additionally, it calls for the accountability of Israeli officials and urges businesses to avoid activities that support or benefit Israel's presence in these regions.
25/10/2023	A/78/553	The report documents the growing influence of Israeli settlers and the worsening human rights situation in the occupied territories, marked by a sharp increase in violence. The Special Committee notes that "by early August 2023, Israeli Forces had already killed more Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Israel in 2023 than in any other year since 2005." It highlights that settlers, who constitute only 7% of Israel’s population, now hold disproportionate political power, with two of the six members of the Israeli Security Cabinet—Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a Kedumim settlement leader, and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, a settler and former member of the "Hilltop Youth"—being key representatives. These developments have led to the retroactive legalization of settlement outposts and the approval of thousands of new settlement units, actions in direct violation of international law and United Nations resolutions. The report condemns these measures, including the repeal of the 2005 Disengagement Law, and calls for a halt to settlement expansion, citing its contribution to escalating violence and worsening humanitarian crises.
03/10/2022	A/77/501	The report addresses several key concerns, including the humanitarian crisis and blockade of the Gaza Strip, the alarming increase in Palestinian fatalities, and the steady increase in violence by settlers with the acquiescence, support, and participation of Israeli security forces. The committee highlights the criminalization and detention of human rights defenders, as well as the targeting of journalists including the assassination of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, and the continued Israeli annexation of Palestinian land, including Masafer Yatta, which constitutes the largest displacement of Palestinians since 1967 and may amount to forcible transfer, a grave breach of international humanitarian law. Furthermore, it highlights the frequent use of lethal force by Israeli security forces as a first resort, citing disproportionate actions that notably resulted in the deaths of young Palestinians. Between January 1 and August 11, 2022, Israeli security forces reportedly killed 74 Palestinians, including 20 children, during purported law enforcement operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

End of mission

According to the UN's Office of the High Commissioner, the Special Committee conducted its annual mission to Amman, Jordan, from 4 to 7 July 2022.

References

1. Respect for and implementation of human rights in occupied territories Archived 2021-04-21 at the Wayback Machine, General Assembly resolution 2443 (XXIII) of 19 December 1968.
2. Silverburg, 2002, p. 287.
3. https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n24/271/19/pdf/n2427119.pdf
4. "UN General Assembly Resolution 2727 (December 1970)" (PDF). undocs.org.
5. "UN General Assembly Resolution 2851 (December 1971)" (PDF). www.un.org.
6. Allen, Lori (2021). A History of False Hope: Investigative Commissions on Palestine. Stanford University Press. pp. 144–175. ISBN 9781503614192.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
7. Heaney, Christopher. "Annual Mission Statement of the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People".
8. https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n24/271/19/pdf/n2427119.pdf
9. https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n23/320/40/pdf/n2332040.pdf
10. https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n22/610/71/pdf/n2261071.pdf
11. https://research.un.org/en/docs/symbols
12. https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n24/271/19/pdf/n2427119.pdf
13. "UN Special Committee finds Israel's warfare methods in Gaza consistent with genocide, including use of starvation as weapon of war". OHCHR. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
14. https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/186/186-20240719-adv-01-00-en.pdf
15. "A/RES/78/170". undocs.org. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
16. "s/RES/2735(2024)". undocs.org. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
17. "S/Res/2720(2023)". undocs.org. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
18. https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20240524-ord-01-00-en.pdf
19. https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n24/271/19/pdf/n2427119.pdf
20. "Protection of Civilians Report | 25 July – 7 August 2023". United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - occupied Palestinian territory. 2023-08-11. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
21. "Israel authorises West Bank outposts, despite U.S. admonition". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2023-12-09. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
22. "Israel repeals 2005 act that removed West Bank settlements". PBS News. 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
23. "Settler Attacks on Palestinian Spike, Reflecting Israel's Systemic Failure". Retrieved 2025-01-09.
24. Sfard, Michael. "Violent Israeli settlers are starting to resemble the KKK". Haaretz.com. Archived from the original on 2024-12-22. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
25. "Israel: Criminalisation and harassment of human rights defenders in Masafer Yatta must end, say UN experts". OHCHR. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
26. "Human rights situation in the OPT, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice". OHCHR. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
27. "'Heinous crime': Al Jazeera condemns Israel's killing of reporter". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
28. "New evidence suggests Shireen Abu Akleh was killed in targeted attack by Israeli forces". CNN. 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
29. "Fact sheet: Masafer Yatta communities at risk of forcible transfer | June 2022". United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - occupied Palestinian territory. 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
30. https://unsco.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/security_council_briefing_-_26_july_2022_0.pdf
31. "West Bank: Spike in Israeli Killings of Palestinian Children | Human Rights Watch". 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
32. Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (15 July 2022). "End-of-Mission Statement of the UN Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices".

External links

• UNGA, Resolution 42/160. Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories. 8 December 1987 [doc.nr. A/RES/42/160(A-G)].
• UNGA, Resolution 44/48. Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Population of the Occupied Territories. 8 December 1989 [doc.nr. A/RES/44/48(A-G)]

Notes

• Silverburg, Sanford R. (2002). Palestine and International Law: Essays on Politics and Economics. McFarland & Company. ISBN 0-7864-1191-0