Oral statement for Item 7 General Debate in the 63rd Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

By: Amman Center for Human Rights Studies, represented by Coordinator Filipe Dias Kalgaard
Date delivered: 29^th of September 2026
Location: Assembly Hall, Palais des Nations, 14 Avenue de la Paix, Geneva, Switzerland.
Item 7: General debate: Human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories.

Mr. Vice President,

The Amman Center for Human Rights Studies welcomes today’s debate and the opportunity to speak to the Council.

The human rights situation in Palestine and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, Gaza and the West Bank, is a neither new, nor isolated crisis. It is a ruthless occupation that has been ongoing for nearly eight decades.

The so-called Israeli “death penalty for terrorists” law enacted this year is yet another gross symptom of the diseases called colonialism and occupation, grave affronts to international law and order – as well as a departure from fundamental human decency.

Palestinians suffer the effects of occupation; which are systematic discrimination, dehumanisation, and silencing of Palestinians under false pretexts of securitisation. A daily risk it is, that of kidnapping, arbitrary detention, torture, collective punishment, repression of freedom of speech and expression.

Accountability is a necessity. Our Center recommends that 1) Israel repels the death penalty law, 2) Israel ceases all human rights violations, and end genocide 3) And we call on Israel to comply with international law and to return to a respectful world order. 4) For all enterprises engaged in illegal settlements to cease operations immediately.

Finally, the Council should support independent investigations for documenting and preserving evidence,- and we urge all members of the international community to condemn the state of Israel for its destruction of Palestinian lives and human rights. With support of the Council, states must increase international collaboration in support of the Palestinian people and all occupied-and-oppressed people in Arab territories.

Thank you.

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