Significant civilian losses and destruction in Israel and Palestine concern Danish Institute for Human Rights
"The high civilian death toll, kidnappings, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, paint a picture of the laws of war and human rights being violated to a worrying extent," says director Louise Holck, who, however, welcomes the agreement on a humanitarian pause and the release of hostages.
The parties to the war are - as emphasized by the UN Secretary-General and the International Criminal Court - obliged under international law to protect civilians during armed conflict. Deliberate attacks on civilians and attacks where civilian losses are disproportionately high compared to the achieved military objectives are categorically prohibited and constitute violations of human rights and the laws of war, which the parties to the war are obliged to comply with, including the rules of the Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians and proportionality.
Since October 7th, more than 11,000 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis have been killed according to the UN, and the war has had serious consequences for both human rights activists and human rights institutions. According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the freedom of expression and assembly of Israeli human rights advocates are being infringed upon, and human rights institutions face difficult working conditions.
Danish Institute for Human Rights works to promote and protect human rights in Denmark as well as internationally. The war has also put pressure on the Palestinian human rights institution, and that risks weakening the work to promote human rights in both the short and long term, says Louise Holck.
"Human rights institutions – especially our sister organization, the Palestinian Human Rights Commission – do important work in monitoring the human rights situation and trying to ensure that the rules of war and human rights are respected. The recent events underline the importance of having national human rights institutions," says Louise Holck, who looks forward to the Danish government soon resuming bilateral development aid as promised.
It is crucial that relevant international forums, including the UN and the International Criminal Court, address breaches of the rules of war and human rights in Israel and Palestine and that war crimes committed by the parties to the war are documented, she believes.
"There is no excuse for failing to protect civilians and adhere to the rules of war and human rights. Those responsible for war crimes must be held legally accountable when hostilities have ended."