Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories A/RES/73/96 Recalling the statement of 15 July 1999 and the declarations adopted on 5 December 2001 and on 17 December 2014 8 by the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, and welcoming initiatives by States parties, both individually and collectively, according to article 1 of the Convention and aimed at ensuring respect for the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Recalling also its resolution 58/292 of 6 May 2004, Taking note of the report of the independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the implications of the Israeli settlements on the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, 9 Convinced that occupation itself represents a gross and grave violation of human rights, Noting with deep regret that 51 years have passed since the onset of the Israeli occupation, and stressing the urgent need for efforts to reverse the negative trends on the ground and to restore a political horizon for advancing and accelerating meaningful negotiations aimed at the achievement of a peace agreement that will bring a complete end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 and the resolution of all core final status issues, without exception, leadin g to a peaceful, just, lasting and comprehensive solution for the question of Palestine, Recognizing that the occupation and ensuing persistent and systematic violations of international law by Israel, including international humanitarian and human rights law, are considered to be the main sources of other Israeli violations and discriminatory policies against the Palestinian civilian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, Gravely concerned about the continuing detrimental impact of ongoing unlawful Israeli practices and measures in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, including the excessive use of force by the Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians, resulting in the death and i njury of civilians and the widespread destruction of property and vital infrastructure, including during the Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip in July and August 2014, as well as ongoing settlement activities and construction of the wall, the i nternal forced displacement of civilians, the imposition of collective punishment measures, particularly against the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, where continuing severe restrictions on movement amount to a blockade, and the detention and impriso nment of thousands of Palestinians, Expressing grave concern about tensions, instability and violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, due to the illegal policies and practices of Israel, the occupying Power, including, in particular, provocations and incitements regarding the holy places of Jerusalem, including the Haram al-Sharif, Gravely concerned about all acts of violence, intimidation and provocation by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and properties, including homes, mosques, churches and agricultural lands, Gravely concerned also by reports regarding serious human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law, 10 __________________ 8 9 10 2/4 A/69/711-S/2015/1, annex. A/HRC/22/63. See A/63/855-S/2009/250 and A/HRC/12/48. 18-21418