JABAR EKSPRES – United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday (7/6) strongly condemned Israel’s attacks and excessive force in Jenin town in the occupied West Bank.
“Israel’s airstrikes and ground operations in a crowded refugee camp are the worst violence in the West Bank in years, affecting civilians, including more than 100 injured and thousands displaced,” Guterres said at the UN headquarters in New York, USA.
“I strongly condemn all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror,” he said.
He also condemned Israel’s overreaction.
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“Clearly, in this situation, there was excessive use of force by Israeli forces,” Guterres said.
Guterres called on Israel to abide by international law, exercise restraint and use force as necessary. He also called on the Zionist state to minimize damage, casualties, and respect and protect human life.
“The airstrikes are incompatible with the conduct of law enforcement operations,” he said.
Guterres said Israel, as an occupying power, is obliged to protect civilians.
He said he understood Israel’s concerns over security, but escalation of conflict was not the solution.
“(These) attacks only encourage radicalization and lead to a deepening cycle of violence and bloodshed,” he said.
According to Guterres, sending military forces to Israel is not “realistic”.
“I don’t think the Israeli government would agree to that possibility, but I think we need to find mechanisms to give civilians protection from these dramatic conditions.”
The Israeli military withdrew its troops from Jenin on Wednesday, ending its largest military operation in the city in more than 20 years.
About 12 Palestinians were killed, including five children, and more than 140 were injured in the attack, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.
The offensive, which began on Monday, caused massive damage across the West Bank, where dozens of homes, vehicles, shops and power grids were destroyed.
