WANA (Nov 30) – Kazem Gharibabadi, Secretary of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights, addressed a letter to four senior UN officials, including António Guterres, UN Secretary-General; Bab Raie, President of the UN Economic and Social Council; Abdulaziz Al-Wasel, Chair of the UN Commission on the Status of Women; and Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. In his letter, Gharibabadi emphasized that the time has come to hold the Israeli regime accountable for its atrocities, including its expulsion from the United Nations.

 

He highlighted the stark contradiction in allowing the Israeli regime, widely recognized as a perpetrator of human rights violations, to sit on the Commission on the Status of Women. This regime, as acknowledged by international human rights bodies, independent UN experts, and activists, has turned Gaza into a killing field for civilians, particularly women and children. Allowing such a regime to remain in a body dedicated to promoting women’s rights and preventing violence and discrimination against women undermines the credibility of international organizations and erodes hope in their effectiveness during crises and humanitarian threats.

 

Shocking Statistics on Israeli Atrocities

Gharibabadi drew attention to the horrific statistics of Israel’s aggressive actions in Gaza and Lebanon. He stated: Over 44,000 people have been killed, and more than 104,000 injured in Gaza due to the Israeli military’s assaults.

 

As of November 8, 2024, reports from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights indicate that 70% of those killed are women and children, and 80% of the casualties occurred during attacks on residential buildings and similar structures.

 

The regime is responsible for the death of a child every 10 minutes in Gaza, with over 17,000 Palestinian children killed and more than 255,000 orphaned. Hundreds of newborns have died due to indiscriminate bombings of residential areas, hospitals, schools, and refugee camps.

 

He added that Israel has systematically destroyed Gaza’s education system, deliberately targeting academics, teachers, and students: Nearly 90% of Gaza’s school buildings, including public, private, and organizational schools, have been completely destroyed. Over 10,000 students have been killed, and more than 13,000 injured. 12 universities and higher education institutions have been annihilated, leaving 620,000 students unable to continue their education for the second consecutive year.

 

Suppression of Information and Expansion of Atrocities

Gharibabadi emphasized that these figures only scratch the surface of the crimes committed in Gaza, as Israel has deliberately cut off internet access, electricity, and infrastructure, suppressed media coverage, and targeted journalists to prevent the full scale of the atrocities from being revealed. He also noted that similar atrocities have been committed in Lebanon, with Israel employing the same brutal tactics in Rafah and Lebanon.

 

In Lebanon: Over 200 children have been massacred, and thousands more injured. According to UNICEF, over 1.3 million people in Lebanon have been displaced, including more than 400,000 children. The education of 387,000 children has been disrupted due to the displacement of families.

 

Lebanese women, especially pregnant women, face dire conditions due to bombings and lack of access to healthcare, leading to increased risks of miscarriages, premature births, and maternal mortality.

 

Israel’s Violation of International Law

Gharibabadi accused Israel of widespread violations of international law, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, racial discrimination, and genocide. Backed by the material and moral support of the United States and certain Western nations, the regime has flagrantly violated the Geneva Conventions, resulting in immense suffering for women and children in Gaza and Lebanon.

 

Moreover, Israel has attacked UN peacekeepers and obstructed humanitarian agencies like the UNRWA, killing hundreds of UN personnel in Gaza and disregarding UN Charter principles and the rulings of the International Court of Justice.

 

A Call for Accountability

Gharibabadi argued that the international community must hold Israel accountable. Referring to recent rulings by international courts declaring Israel’s occupation of Palestine illegal and issuing arrest warrants for its former prime minister and defense minister, he stressed that now is the time to expel Israel from the UN Commission on the Status of Women and other human rights bodies.

 

He concluded by emphasizing the need for collective resistance and further isolation of the Israeli regime to halt its ongoing atrocities. Many UN member states have already demanded the suspension of Israel’s participation in the UN General Assembly, demonstrating a growing international consensus to address its crimes.