UN rights chief calls for calm in West Bank
The UN human rights chief has called for calm in the West Bank after a week of violence in the occupied territory, as well as occupied-East Jerusalem, and inside Israel.
Hussein warned on Thursday that “more bloodshed will only lead to more hatred on both sides,” and that he is deeply concerned about the increasing number of attacks by both settlers and Palestinians.
The UN official voiced concern about the number of Palestinians injured by live ammunition, which stands at 134, and the hundreds more injured by rubber bullets and tear gas.
“The high number of casualties, in particular those resulting from the use of live ammunition by Israeli security forces, raise concerns of excessive use of force,” Hussein said, according to the Associated Press news agency.
The UN rights chief’s comments came as two Israelis were injured in separate attacks in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
In Jersualem, a Yeshiva student was stabbed and critically wounded, while the Palestinian attacker was detained by police.
In the Tel Aviv attack, a Palestinian stabbed a female Israeli soldier with a screwdriver before being shot dead.
Four Israelis have died in stabbing attacks, and several others have been injured.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, at least 1,600 Palestinians have been injured since October 3.
Eighty-seven have been injured with live ammunition, and 290 with rubber-coated steel bullets.
On Monday, Abdel Rahman Abdullah, a 13-year-old from the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, was shot and killed by Israeli forces, prompting further protests and unrest.
On Wednesday, two Palestinian protesters were shot and critically wounded by Israeli soldiers during a protest near the settlement of Beit El.
Footage appeared to show undercover Israeli soldiers dressed as protesters attacking men.