A/HRC/22/35 I. Introduction 1. The present report is the fifth periodic report on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory submitted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.1 The report covers the period from 16 November 2011 to 29 November 2012. The information in the report is based primarily on human rights monitoring carried out by the field presence of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OHCHR-OPT). Monitoring activities are implemented within the framework of General Assembly resolution 48/141 of 1993 and Human Rights Council resolutions S-9/1 and S-12/1 of 2009. 2. In the present report, the High Commissioner highlights issues of concern with regard to each of the main duty bearers in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, namely the Government of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the de facto authorities in Gaza. The issues addressed do not exhaustively cover all human rights concerns in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The report focuses on areas requiring priority attention by duty bearers, and should be read in conjunction with two recent reports by the Secretary-General (A/67/372 and A/67/375), which address additional issues not dealt with in the present report. 3. The addendum to the present report (A/HRC/22/35/Add.1) covers issues of concern arising from the escalation in hostilities in Gaza and southern Israel between 14 and 21 November 2012, referred to by Israel as Operation Pillar of Defence, and referred to in the present report as “the crisis”. During the crisis, according to information available to OHCHR, a total of 174 Palestinians were killed. At least 168 of them were killed by Israeli military action; of those, 101 are believed to be civilians, including 33 children and 13 women. Hundreds of Palestinians were injured.2 Palestinian armed groups fired over 1,500 rockets at Israel, reportedly killing three soldiers and four Israeli civilians. 3 According to the Government of Israel, 239 others, including 219 civilians, were injured. 4 OHCHR closely monitored the situation and noted, on numerous occasions, the failure of both parties to respect the laws of war, including the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions. 4. It should be noted that in March 2012 the Government of Israel announced in the media that its relations with the Human Rights Council and with OHCHR would be suspended following the adoption of Council resolution 19/17, in which the Council 1 2 3 4 Previous reports: A/HRC/19/20, A/HRC/16/71, A/HRC/13/54, A/HRC/12/37. Figure varies according to source. The numbers cited refer to the Protection Cluster database on casualties, for which Palestinian and Israeli organizations provided data. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), according to media, estimate the number of Palestinians killed at 177, including 120 combatants, and the number of injuries (including an unspecified number of civilians) at 900. Gaza’s Ministry of Health estimates the number of Palestinians killed at 189, and injuries at 1,526. No details on casualties of civilians are provided by that Ministry. For IDF figures, see Times of Israel, www.timesofisrael.com/several-casualties-in-explosion-in-central-tel-aviv/. For Gaza Ministry of Health figures, see Ma’an News Agency, 27 December 2012, http://maannews.net/arb/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=551374. According to the Government of Israel, one Israeli civilian was located at a legitimate military objective. See the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism+Obstacle+to+Peace/Memorial/2012/GazaNov2012/Alayaan_Salem_al-Nabari.htm. Israel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel under fire – November 2012”, 22 November 2012, www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Hamas+war+against+Israel/Israel_under_fireNovember_2012.htm. 3