The Human Rights Council (HRC), held in its 61^st regular session, adopted several resolutions on the 27^th of March. One of those resolutions is resolution A/HRC/61/L.35/Rev.1 on the “Human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and the obligation to ensure accountability and justice” –– Submitted by Pakistan (on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, except Albania which falls under item two on the agenda of the HRC.

Egypt commented on the draft resolution by expressing its full support for it on the basis of its unwavering and principled commitment to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination. It highlighted the timeliness of the resolution in light of Israel’s ongoing violations of international law, including breaches of the ceasefire, the excessive use of force against civilians, escalating settler violence, the expansion of settlements, forced displacement, and unlawful measures aimed at altering the legal and demographic character of the territory. It emphasized that all these violations constitute breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL) and international (IHRL).

Egypt stressed the urgency of accountability, emphasizing that impunity continues to fuel further violations and undermine prospects for peace. It urged the full implementation of the ceasefire arrangement, the protection of civilians, the guarantee of full, sustained and unhindered humanitarian access, and the advancement of reconstruction, alongside ending the cycle of violations. 

Furthermore, Egypt stressed that a vote in favor of this resolution is a clear affirmation that the Council will act without selectivity to defend the rights of the Palestinian people and uphold the principles upon which it was founded.

Finally, the resolution was successfully adopted by a vote of twenty-four in favor, 4 against and 19 abstentions. 

The resolution demands –citing the ICJ Wall Advisory Opinion (AO) (2004), Legal Consequences of Israeli Policies AO (2024), UNRWA AO (2025) and the ICJ order of provisional measures in Genocide Case (South Africa v. Israel) 2024 –that Israel:

• End its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, lift the Gaza blockade and all forms of collective punishment, and revoke designations against Palestinian civil society organizations. 
• Grant access to the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories and other UN human rights mechanisms. 
• Cease settlement expansion, demolitions, forced transfers and other measures altering the character of the territory, including the recent declaration of so-called “state land” in the West Bank. 
• Dismantle the wall, make reparations, and comply fully with IHL and IHRL. 
• Ensure humanitarian access and the right to health, end discriminatory policies, including in water allocation, and eradicate systemic discrimination. 
• Respect and protect the privileges and immunities of the UN and its agencies, including UNRWA. 
• Uphold obligations toward detainees, including prohibiting torture, ensuring due process, refraining from discriminatory legislation, including those imposing differential treatment or mandatory death sentences on Palestinians, and cease transferring prisoners from the Occupied Palestinian Territory into Israel in violation of international law. 
• Take immediate and effective measures to prevent, investigate and prosecute violence and abuses committed by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians, dismantle structures enabling such acts, ensure accountability without discrimination, and provide remedies and reparations to victims. 

The resolution further condemns and deplores interalia:

• Violations of the ceasefire agreement and calls for its full implementation, including humanitarian access and the restoration of basic services. 
• The use of starvation of civilians, denial of aid, and obstruction of essential supplies by Israel, and expresses grave concern over statements by Israeli officials in light of obligations to prevent incitement to genocide. 
• Punitive measures against Palestinians, including the withholding of tax revenues, and expresses concern over restrictions on access to religious sites and their discriminatory impact. 
• Unlawful violence against Palestinian civilians, including excessive use of force and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the use of AI to aid military decision making. 
• The deregistration of humanitarian organizations. 
• The firing of rockets against Israeli civilians and calls for an end to actions by armed groups contrary to international law. 

The resolution calls upon and urges States to:

• (State parties) Cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court, including enforcing arrest warrants for those alleged to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. 
• Refrain from and rescind any acts of intimidation, threats, sanctions, or reprisals against ICC officials, UN mandate holders, and those cooperating with them, and respect the independence of international judicial and human rights mechanisms. 
• Not recognize as lawful, nor render aid or assistance to, situations created by serious breaches of peremptory norms of international law and cooperate to bring such breaches to an end. 
• Ensure that arms exports do not contribute to unlawful situations and cease the sale, transfer, or diversion of arms, munitions, military equipment, and certain technologies where there is a risk they may be used to violate international law. 
• Respect and ensure respect for IHL in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including fulfilling obligations under the Geneva Conventions. 
• Provide emergency and development assistance to the Palestinian people and ensure sustained and sufficient funding for UN agencies, including UNRWA. 
• Ensure accountability for serious violations of IHRL and IHL, including crimes committed by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians, through appropriate legal measures, fair and independent national or international mechanisms, and the provision of effective remedies and full reparations for victims.