UN human rights chief joins condemnation of deadly West Bank attack

The United Nations human rights chief today added her voice to the chorus of condemnation of the killing of four Israeli citizens in the West Bank this week and urged that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

The four civilians, who reportedly included a pregnant woman, were shot dead on Tuesday night as they travelled in a car near the city of Hebron in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Another two people were wounded in a separate attack yesterday, and Hamas has reportedly claimed responsibility.

Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, issued a statement deploring the attacks which, “as well as being abhorrent in themselves, also appear to be aimed at undermining the current round of peace talks.”

Direct peace talks between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas – the first such talks between the two sides in nearly two years – began today in Washington D.C.

In her statement Ms. Pillay also stressed that the perpetrators of this week’s attacks in the West Bank “can be held accountable under international criminal law.”

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry have already issued their own statements expressing condemnation of Tuesday’s attack.