\n
<\/p>\n
The development poses a \u201cserious humanitarian risk\u201d to civilians living there, maintained the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), briefing journalists in Geneva.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe use of herbicides raises questions about the effects on local agricultural lands and how this might impact the return of civilians to their homes and livelihoods<\/strong> in the long term,\u201d said Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the UN Information Service in Geneva.<\/p>\n Reiterating remarks made by the UN Spokesperson in New York on Thursday, Ms. Vellucci highlighted the obligations of all parties under international humanitarian law. \u201cAny activity by the [Israel Defense Forces] IDF north of the Blue Line is a violation of <\/strong>resolution 1701<\/strong>,\u201d she told journalists.<\/p>\n OHCHR spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan insisted that the reports required deeper investigation \u201cto confirm the nature of the chemical substances\u201d<\/strong> that had been used. \u201cAttacks on farmland and water sources poses a serious\u2026humanitarian risk,\u201d\u00a0he said.<\/p>\n Reports attributed to the Lebanese authorities indicate that the herbicide is glyphosate, and that samples taken from the sprayed areas where there is dense vegetation showed concentrations at 20 to 30 times the recommended level.<\/p>\n The UN human rights official also expressed deep concern at developments in the occupied West Bank, warning that new Israeli operations and settlements risk undermining a viable Palestinian state.<\/p>\n Since last year, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forcibly displaced across the occupied West Bank.<\/p>\n This includes three refugee camps impacted by Israel\u2019s militarised \u201cIron Wall\u201d operation which uprooted more than 32,000 people from the camps of Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams.\u00a0<\/p>\n They are still unable to return home, and many have had their houses destroyed by Israeli forces, Mr. Al-Kheetan said.<\/p>\n New Israel security operations impacting Palestinians\u00a0have included a campaign in occupied East Jerusalem, including at least two major operations targeting two Palestinian communities, according to the UN human rights office, OHCHR.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIn the Shu\u2019fat refugee camp, they raided dozens of homes and shops, detained at least 25 Palestinians, confiscated goods, and seized 10 private vehicles<\/strong>,\u201d Mr. Al-Kheetan explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIn another large-scale operation, targeting Kafr Aqab neighbourhood and the boundaries of Qalandiya refugee camp, Israeli security forces reportedly demolished 70 Palestinian structures<\/strong>. This appears to be in preparation for major settlement projects in the area.\u201d<\/p>\n This is in addition to \u201crelentless violence\u201d by Israeli settlers against Palestinians \u2013 \u201cwith the support and participation of Israeli security forces\u201d, the UN human rights office said, maintaining that Israeli settlements are expanding \u201cat previously unseen pace\u201d in breach of international law.<\/p>\n OHCHR said that in December, the Israeli authorities sought tenders for the construction of more than 3,000 settlement units in the area between three of the most significant Palestinian urban centres: East Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Bethlehem.\u00a0<\/p>\n Responding to a question about the Israeli \u201cE1 plan\u201d that would reportedly separate the northern and southern West Bank from East Jerusalem, Mr. Al-Kheetan warned that it \u201crisks separating Palestinian communities from each other and thus affecting seriously the viability of a Palestinian state\u2026the bottom line is that all settlements must be evacuated and the settlement activity must stop.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\nOccupied West Bank warning<\/strong><\/h2>\n