UN Officials Call on the US to Address 'Double Standards' in the Israel-Palestine Dispute
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Geneva, Dec 12 (NationPress) United Nations (UN) human rights specialists have criticized the US for its double standards in managing breaches of international law amid the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling for an end to impunity for both Israel and its allies.
During a press conference in Geneva, four experts, acting as Special Rapporteurs to the UN Human Rights Council, called on the global community to hold Israel responsible for alleged infringements of international law, which include disproportionate violence, humanitarian blockades, and the expansion of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Margaret Satterthwaite, Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, criticized the US government for undermining the International Criminal Court through outrageous threats and emphasized the necessity for international justice to be applied fairly to all.
"It's time to end the double standards," Satterthwaite stated.
Francesca Albanese, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, pointed out the high civilian casualties and attacks on UN personnel as proof of systemic violations by Israel, exacerbated by a lack of international accountability.
"There are never sanctions on Israel," Albanese remarked. "Judicial processes are either overlooked or sidestepped, trade persists, and diplomatic relations remain unbroken. Member States appear paralyzed or in awe, many still normalizing the occupation."
Ben Saul, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, criticized Israel's use of counterterrorism language to rationalize extreme violence against Palestinians and the ongoing dehumanization of the Palestinian populace over the last 14 months.
He urged for thorough investigations and an end to impunity, observing that violations have predominantly "gone unchallenged by the states that matter and that can influence change in Israel's conduct."
Saul specifically targeted the US as a primary supplier of military equipment to Israel, accusing it of failing to leverage its influence to effectively address human rights violations.
George Katrougalos, Special Rapporteur on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, echoed concerns regarding the broader implications of impunity for the international system, warning that Israel's actions threaten to establish a two-tiered system where certain states remain untouched by repercussions.
