New York - Gaza: Europe and the Arabs
Independent UN experts said the anti-war demonstrations in Gaza are an example of how young people are coming together in international solidarity to protest blatant disregard for human rights and call for peace.
In a statement issued yesterday, Tuesday, experts said that students and youth are at the forefront of demanding change in light of the spread of war and violent conflicts around the world. They added: “Today’s youth are demanding recognition and call on state and non-state actors to take responsibility for their actions, and to pursue peace and human rights, including women’s rights and the right to a clean and healthy environment. Through their activism, youth are demanding change and solutions.” The United Nations Journal, a copy of which we received on Wednesday morning
They noted that by raising awareness about important issues in their communities and providing a platform for young people to share their political demands, international youth solidarity demonstrations can help increase public support for change.
“Young people are frustrated by the lack of response from states, universities and non-state actors, including companies, to promote peace and human rights. They have the right to have their voices heard,” the experts said.
The experts are:
Cecilia Bellet, Independent Expert on Human Rights and International Solidarity;
Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders;
Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association;
Reem Al-Salem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences;
Attia Waris, Independent Expert on Foreign Debt and Human Rights;
Ashwini K.P., Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism;
George Catrogalos, Independent Expert on Strengthening a Democratic and Just International Order;
Barbara Reynolds (Chair), Dominic Day, Catherine Namakula, Pina D'Costa, Expert Working Group on People of African Descent.
It is noteworthy that special rapporteurs and independent experts are appointed by the Human Rights Council in Geneva, which is an intergovernmental body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights around the world. Rapporteurs and experts are tasked with studying human rights situations and submitting reports on them to the Human Rights Council. It should be noted that this position is honorary, and these experts are not considered employees of the United Nations and do not receive compensation for their work.
On the other hand, the extremist Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, called for the resettlement of Jews in the Gaza Strip and the departure of the Palestinian residents of the Strip from it.
During a march in Sderot to demand resettlement in the Gaza Strip, Ben Gvir said: “In order for the problem not to return again, two things must be done: return to the Gaza Strip and encourage the voluntary departure of Gaza residents,” considering that it is “a moral, rational and humanitarian matter,” although As he put it.
Ben Gvir added: "I feel ashamed because I am the only one in the government who voted against transporting shipments to Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing. You want humanity? Return the kidnapped ones."
Ben Gvir had sparked discontent in Israeli political circles, after he responded to US President Joe Biden’s threat to stop supplying weapons to Tel Aviv in the event of a complete incursion into Rafah, and wrote in a post on the “X” platform: “Hamas ❤️ Biden.”
Earlier, Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir made a veiled threat to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Ben Gvir said: “I welcome the Prime Minister’s decision not to send the Israeli delegation to Cairo. I hope that he will also fulfill the other commitments he made to me in the meeting he held with me last week: not for the sake of an illegal deal, but for the sake of Rafah.”
He added: "The Prime Minister knows very well the cost of not fulfilling these commitments."
Last April, Ben Gvir called for dissolving the Israeli war cabinet in light of its failure to manage the war on the Gaza Strip and the escalating border confrontations with Hezbollah.