“Israel's detention of Jerusalem Minister Fadi Hidmi is an outrageous act of wilful sabotage of the Palestinian
government’s concerted efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Palestine. He must be released immediately. Instead of
focusing its efforts on oppressing Palestinians and preventing the Palestinian government’s efforts to provide
Jerusalemites with assistance and needed healthcare to combat the spread of the virus, Israel must honour its
obligations as an occupying Power under international law towards the Palestinian population under its illegal control.
Since the beginning of the outbreak, Israeli occupation authorities have been deliberately derelict of their obligations
to carry out vigorous testing of the Palestinian population in and around Jerusalem. This criminally negligent behaviour
is compounded by Israeli occupation authorities obstructing all Palestinian efforts to disinfect neighbourhoods, raise
awareness, and provide assistance to families financially affected by the crisis. Repressive Israeli measures have
sharply increased, especially those targeting Palestinian neighbourhoods and villages in and around Jerusalem, including
nightly raids and arbitrary detentions, as well as harassment and detention of volunteers.
The United Nations Secretary General has called on all countries to silence the guns and focus on collectively saving
humanity from this vicious pandemic that is ravaging societies around the globe. However, Israel has taken advantage of
this global crisis to entrench its illegal occupation and increase its human rights violations. Israel’s occupation
regime and illegal practices are the most dangerous and damaging factors undermining Palestinian efforts to confront the
COVID-19 pandemic, threatening the lives of tens of thousands of vulnerable Palestinians in Jerusalem and beyond.
Combating this pandemic requires global cooperation and solidarity. It also requires vigilance and accountability for
human rights violations. We call on all responsible states to stand up to Israeli violations so that we can all focus
our energies on saving lives.”