UN Human Rights Commissioner Mary Robinson said in Gaza Wednesday that she supports the Palestinians' demand for an international intervention force in the territories to protect them from Israel, reported The Jerusalem Post Wednesday.
Robinson also condemned Israel for using excessive force to quell the Palestinian uprising, said the paper.
"I have been made very aware of the strong need for international protection," Robinson told reporters in Gaza City after meeting Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, quoted by AFP.
"I am very concerned about excessive use of force," she said.
Palestinians want international forces to monitor the West Bank and Gaza Strip, to stop Israel from shooting Palestinian demonstrators.
Robinson told reporters that there was a "disturbing pattern" to the bullet wounds received by Palestinians shot by Israeli soldiers during the daily clashes, said AFP.
"There were a disproportionate number of injuries to the upper body, the head and many from live ammunition or rubber-bullets fired at very close quarters," she was quoted by the agency as saying.
Robinson's aides have taken pains to note that her visit to Israel has been planned since February and that it was not linked specifically to an October 19 resolution by the UN Human Rights Commission calling on her to travel urgently to the region to investigate Israeli actions against Palestinians.
Robinson met earlier today with residents of settlement of Gilo who told her about their life under fire, said the Post.
Israel blames the Palestinians for the violence, and says the Palestinian leadership “orchestrates the confrontations.” – (Several Sources)
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