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 report of the independent commission of inquiry established pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution S-21/1, 11 and stressing the imperative of ensuring accountability for all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in order to end impunity, ensure justice, deter fur ther violations, protect civilians and promote peace, Having considered the report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories 12 and the relevant reports of the Secretary-General, 13 Recalling the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements of 13 September 1993 14 and the subsequent implementation agreements between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, Stressing the urgency of bringing a complete end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967, and thus an end to the violation of the human rights of the Palestinian people, and of allowing for the realization of their inalienable human rights, including their right to self-determination and their independent State, Taking note of the application of Palestine for admission to membership in the United Nations, submitted on 23 September 2011, 15 Recalling its resolution 67/19 of 29 November 2012, by which, inter alia, Palestine was accorded non-member observer State status in the United Nations, and taking note of the follow-up report of the Secretary-General, Noting the accession by Palestine to several human rights treaties and the co re humanitarian law conventions, as well as other international treaties, 16 1. Commends the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories for its impartiality and efforts in performing the tasks assigned to it by the General Assembly, in spite of the obstruction of its mandate; 2. Reiterates its demand that Israel, the occupying Power, cooperate, in accordance with its obligations as a State Member of the United Nations, with the Special Committee in implementing its mandate, and deplores the continued lack of cooperation in this regard; 3. Deplores those policies and practices of Israel that violate the human rights of the Palestinian people and other Arabs of the occupied territories, as reflected in the report of the Special Committee covering the reporting period; 12 4. Expresses grave concern about the critical situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the Gaza Strip, as a result of unlawful Israeli practices and measures, and especially condemns and calls for the immediate cessation of all illegal Israeli settlement activities and the construction of the wall, the lifting of the blockade of the Gaza Strip, as well as a complete cessation of the excessive and indiscriminate use of force and military operations against the civilian population, settler violence, the destruction and confiscation of properties, including home demolitions as a measure of reprisal, the forced displacement of civilians, all measures of collective punishment, and the detention and imprisonment of thousands of civilians; __________________ 11 12 13 14 15 16 18-21418 A/HRC/29/52. A/73/499. A/73/357, A/73/364, A/73/410 and A/73/420. A/48/486-S/26560, annex. A/66/371-S/2011/592. A/67/738. 3/4