A/HRC/43/21 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 40/13 and follows the oral update provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights during the forty-second session of the Council on the progress made in the implementation of the resolution. 1 It should be read in conjunction with recent relevant reports of the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner.2 2. The report covers the period between 1 November 2018 and 30 October 2019 and addresses issues related to accountability for alleged violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including in connection with incidents of alleged excessive use of force in the context of the large-scale protests related to the Great March of Return along the Gaza-Israel fence and of law enforcement operations in the West Bank and Gaza by all relevant duty bearers. It takes into account the report and recommendations of the independent international commission of inquiry on the protests in the Occupied Palestinian Territory established by the Human Rights Council in its resolution S-28/1. It provides an update on accountability measures taken in relation to the three escalations of hostilities in Gaza since 2008. Lastly, it addresses measures linked to the responsibility of third States to ensure respect for international law. 3. The information contained in the present report draws mainly upon human rights monitoring activities conducted by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It also draws upon information from governmental sources, other United Nations entities and non-governmental organizations. OHCHR requested the Government of Israel and the Palestinian National Authority to provide information, by 15 November 2019, on any accountability measures adopted during the reporting period in relation to alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in particular with regard to use of force by their respective security forces that may have led to killings or injuries. The Palestinian National Authority responded with three submissions dated 14 November 2019. The Government of Israel did not respond. OHCHR also requested the States Members of the United Nations for information on the steps taken by them as third States to promote compliance with international law and implement the recommendations addressed to them. As of 15 November 2019, Cuba and the Syrian Arab Republic had responded. II. Violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory 4. Serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law continued in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in the context of large-scale civilian protests in Gaza. The present section focuses on developments related to possible excessive use of force in the context of law enforcement operations. The report of the High Commissioner on the implementation of Human Rights Council resolutions S-9/1 and S12/13 provides an overview of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law by all duty bearers in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and the report of the High Commissioner on the Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in the occupied Syrian Golan 4 focuses on the violations of international humanitarian law governing occupation, in particular in respect of settlement expansion and its negative impact on the human rights of Palestinians during the same period (1 November 2018–30 October 2019). 1 2 3 4 2 www.un.org/unispal/document/human-rights-commissioners-update-on-the-implementation-ofrecommendations-of-commission-of-inquiry-on-gaza-protests/. A/HRC/35/19 and Add.1, A/HRC/37/41, A/HRC/40/43 and A/74/468. A/HRC/43/70. A/HRC/43/67.