The Israeli authorities have so far refused to grant access to a UN official planning to visit the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT) between 20 and 28 September, a UN statement said.
The new UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the OPT, Indonesian diplomat Makarim Wibisono, is set to undertake his first official visit to the region this week.
The statement said that Wibisono will gather first-hand information on the current human rights situation in the OPT following the July-August Israeli war, which resulted in at least 1,473 Palestinian civilians killed, including some 501 children.
Wibisono, an independent expert, will visit Jordan and Egypt during his mission and seek to access to Gaza through the Rafah Crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. However, Wibisono said that, “Despite my best efforts, I have not been granted access by Israel to the OPT at this time.”
Read More: Middle East Monitor
Israel prevents UN official from entering occupied Palestinian territories.
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