UN Human Rights expert: Gaza Strip virtually `imprisoned`

Source: News.com, 23-3-2007
Geneva - A UN human rights expert today accused "Israel" of turning the Gaza Strip into a virtual prison under an apartheid-like occupation of Palestinian territories.
"Gaza remains an imprisoned society into which the prison guards have made frequent military incursions, killing hundreds of Palestinians and wounding thousands in the second half of 2006," said John Dugard, the special rapporteur on human rights for the Palestinian territories.
Mr Dugard told the UN Human Rights Council that the situation in the West Bank was "little better", with an increase in military incursions by "Israel" and the construction of a wall between "Israeli" and Palestinian territory.
The human rights expert made the comments while he was formally presenting a report on his missions to Palestinian territories last year.
The report, which was already released to the media in February, said elements of "Israel`s" four-decades long occupation were akin to forms of apartheid.
The South African academic pointed to the demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem (al-Quds), preferential treatment for Zionist settlers and special permit requirements for Palestinians that were not imposed on Israelis.
"Israel" has long refused cooperation with the UN special rapporteur because his mandate does not extend to examining violations of "Israeli" rights by Palestinians, including self-sacrifice bombings and rocket attacks.
Mr Dugard called for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the "Israeli" occupation.