HRC 61 - Interactive Dialogue on High Commissioner’s report on Occupied Palestinian Territory - EU Statement
United Nations Human Rights Council
61st session
Interactive Dialogue on High Commissioner’s report on Occupied Palestinian Territory
26 February 2026
EU Statement
Mister High Commissioner,
We thank you and your Office for your work in upholding human rights and defending international human rights law. We reiterate our support to your mandate and its independence.
We support your call to pursue independent investigation, accountability and justice for any grave violations and abuses, as stated in your report. The EU continues to support the Commission of Inquiry and other relevant OHCHR mandates.
The EU condemns all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the whole Occupied Palestinian Territory. We call upon all parties to comply with their obligations under international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, and underline that there must be accountability for violations. The EU recalls the need to fully implement the International Court of Justice orders, which are legally binding and takes note of its advisory opinions.
The EU has welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and the announcement of the launch of Phase Two of the Comprehensive Peace Plan to End the Gaza conflict. The EU stands ready to continue to support peace in Gaza, through its humanitarian, security, diplomatic and cooperations tools, and looks forward to the implementation of the Peace Plan in its entirety, in line with relevant international political and legal principles.
The EU continues to stress the need for rapid, safe and unimpeded delivery and sustained distribution of humanitarian aid at scale into and throughout Gaza. The EU will continue calling on all parties to facilitate full and unimpeded humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip to respond to the urgent needs of the population, and urge for aid to be effectively distributed in accordance with international law, including by UN agencies, notably UNRWA. The EU calls on Israel not to implement the NGO registration law in its current form. Items that are essential for humanitarian response, such as shelter, medical items and necessary equipment to rehabilitate infrastructure, remove rubble and open roads, must be allowed into Gaza. The EU strongly condemns the further escalation, following massive increase in settler violence against Palestinian civilians, and the policies and threats of intimidation, forcible displacement and annexation, in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as the terrorist attacks against Israel. The EU calls on the Government of Israel to reverse the expansion of settlements, which are illegal under international law, to refrain from any annexation and to hold the violent settlers accountable.
We underline the vital role of civil society in promoting dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians around human rights, peace and a comprehensive and just solution of the conflict. The EU hopes that cooperation with civil society and NGOs will remain unhampered in the future.
The EU remains firmly committed to international law and to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace based on the two-state solution in accordance with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions where two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, live side-by-side in peace within secure and recognised borders, and supports diplomatic efforts in this direction which are anchored in international law.