Jeddah, Sha'ban 29, 1439, May 15, 2018, SPA -- The OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) condemned in the strongest possible manner the arbitrary killing of at least 40 Palestinians including children by the Israeli Occupation Forces, using live fire against innocent civilians protesting the illegal inauguration of US Embassy in Jerusalem. The arbitrary and excessive use of force by the Israeli Occupation Forces also resulted in severe injuries to thousands of Palestinian protesters through tear gas shells and live ammunition. IPHRC reiterated its firm view that the shifting of the US Embassy to the Occupied City of Jerusalem, is a dangerous and illegal unilateral act that not only contravenes the international law including the Fourth Geneva Convention, but also goes against all of UN Security Council, General Assembly and Human Rights Council Resolutions, which affirm the status of Al-Quds as an occupied territory under Israel, the occupying power, since 1967. Today’s unfortunate developments, resulting in loss of precious lives and injuries to thousands of Palestinian civilians at the hands of Israeli Occupation Forces also affirmed the worst fears expressed earlier by the IPHRC on the overwhelming negative consequences of this move (shifting of US Embassy to the occupied Jerusalem) on the whole range of Palestinians’ human rights including their fundamental right to self-determination as well as its potential to incite hatred, discrimination, extremism and violence at the large scale. While condemning these gross violations of human rights, IPHRC endorsed the latest statement issued by the UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) on 14th May that inter alia urged Israel, the Occupying Power, to put an immediate end to the disproportionate use of force against Palestinian demonstrators, refrain from any act that could lead to further casualties and ensure prompt and unimpeded access to medical treatment to injured Palestinian as well as to initiate impartial investigation into the use of force against Palestinian demonstrators in compliance with international standards and hold those responsible accountable. The Commission also stressed the adverse implications of this move on the prospects for a Two-States solution, which has been the cornerstone of a possible lasting solution in the Arab-Israel conflict, and urged the International community in particular the OIC Member States to denounce this illegal move and to reiterate the international consensus on the status of Al-Quds, as a corner stone of any sustainable peace solution in the region. The international Community must also give full guarantee for the status of the Haram of Al-Aqsa Mosque and its full protection from any kind of Israeli action or procedures aimed at changing its status. --SPA 23:30 LOCAL TIME 20:30 GMT 0035 www.spa.gov.sa/w689114