A/HRC/28/78 I. Introduction 1. Since assuming his mandate in June 2014, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 as spared no effort to secure cooperation of the concerned countries and to conduct a mission to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in order to have the opportunity of seeing, hearing and asking his own questions directly to Palestinian victims and various witnesses regarding the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. To that end, the Special Rapporteur made great efforts to build a relationship of trust with representatives of both Israel and of the State of Palestine.1 2. From the outset, together with thematic special procedures mandate holders, the Special Rapporteur expressed serious reservations to the Government of Israel about the nature of Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Joint letters of allegation and urgent appeals were sent on serious alleged violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. The concerns raised included the alleged failures to abide by international legal principles leading to the killings of civilians in the Gaza Strip during Israel’s 2014 military operation; the alleged excessive use of force by Israeli security forces during a peaceful demonstration in the West Bank; and the steps being taken by the Government of Israel, which would reportedly lead to the forced eviction and forcible transfer of Palestinian Bedouin communities currently residing in the central West Bank.2 3. The Special Rapporteur appreciated the openness to dialogue shown by the representatives of the Governments of Israel and Palestine in Geneva. In June 2014, immediately after taking up his position, the Special Rapporteur informed them of his intention to visit the Occupied Palestinian Territory. In response to a formal request to undertake a country visit by the Special Rapporteur in August 2014, the Permanent Observer Mission of State of Palestine expressed its willingness to assist with the mission, including for consultations with relevant consultations and meetings with relevant authorities. No formal response was received from the Permanent Mission of Israel. The Special Rapporteur persevered in his efforts to seek access through informal dialogue with the Permanent Representative of Israel in Geneva; as at late December 2014, however, none had been granted. 4. Owing to the failure of Israel to provide full and free access to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the present report is based primarily on information collected during the first mission conducted by the Special Rapporteur to the region, including to Amman, on 20 and 21 September 2014, and to Cairo, from 22 to 28 September 2014, to hold interviews and briefings with, inter alia, victims, civil society representatives, human rights defenders and Palestinian officials. Representatives of United Nations entities and nongovernmental organizations and Palestinian officials, including ministers, travelled to Amman from the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to meet with the Special Rapporteur. 5. Given the lack of access via Israel, the Special Rapporteur had hoped to visit Gaza through the Rafah crossing; this was not possible, however, owing to circumstances beyond his control. In order to hear directly from interlocutors based in Gaza, he held video and teleconferences with those directly affected by the recent escalation of hostilities. The Special Rapporteur extends his sincere appreciation to all those who provided him with 1 2 See A/69/301 and Corr.1. See A/HRC/28/85. 3