FILE - Palestinians visit the site where veteran Palestinian-American Al Jazeera reporter Shirin Abu Akleh was shot and killed in the West Bank city of Jenin on May 18, 2022.
GENEVA — The three-member UN Independent International Commission on Occupied Palestinian Territory, with East Jerusalem and Israel, will start a public hearing in Geneva from this week on alleged human rights violations in the Palestinian territories.
The commission's chairman, South African jurist and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, as well as Indian human rights expert Miloon Kothari and Australian jurist Christopher Sidoti will begin the hearing, which will be followed by live testimony from three witnesses. The next hearing is expected early next year.
The public hearing will focus on the closure order and Israel's designation of terrorism by several Palestinian NGOs. It will also explore the events surrounding the West Bank killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in May.
Abu Akleh was reportedly killed by Israeli sniper fire. An Israeli investigation into the murder states that the journalist was killed in an "unintentional fire" by an Israeli soldier who did not know he was a journalist.
United Nations Human Rights Council spokesman Rolando Gomez said during a conversation with reporters that public hearings are being held only to know the truth of these issues. He said both Israel and Palestine would testify. However, the government of Israel is not participating in this matter.
“The Commission of Inquiry has reached out to Israel for its comments and seeking cooperation and access. Although they have not received cooperation or access from Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Palestine has cooperated with the Commission.
Source: VoaNews