The UN’s human rights chief has said she was “deeply troubled” by the deadly unrest in the Golan Heights, where up to 40 people have reportedly been killed in recent protests.
“Between 30 and 40 protestors have reportedly been killed by Israeli security forces in the past three weeks,” Navi Pillay said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The government of Israel has a duty to ensure that its security personnel avoid the use of excessive force,” said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
“However difficult the circumstances, the use of live ammunition against allegedly unarmed protestors, resulting in large numbers of deaths and injuries, inevitably raises the question of unnecessary and excessive use of force.”
Israeli security forces used live fire against civilians protesting along the ceasefire line between the Golan Heights and Syria on Sunday.
The rally on “Naksa Day” (Day of Defeat) was to mark the Arab defeat in the 1967 war against Israel.
Protesters there were calling for an end to the occupation of the Golan.
Marches continue
Syrian state television said 23 demonstrators were killed by Israeli forces during the rally at the Golan Heights ceasefire line, while Israel’s military said it counted 10 protesters dead – none of whom was killed by Israeli fire.
In her statement on Tuesday, the UN’s Pillay also called on bot…
