Because the two things are equal, in the eyes of the UN.
The United Nations...an organization conceived in the belief that we're just one big happy world, with the sort of results you'd expect from such nonsense...
’s senior expert on torture visited the kibbutzim that were attacked on October 7, 2023, for the first time on Wednesday, to offer support to families of Israelis held hostage by Hamas
..always the voice of sweet reason...in Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about
oppressionand
disproportionate response...
Alice Jill Edwards, the UN special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment, spoke to Rooters, as mediated talks continued between Israel and Hamas for a potential hostage-ceasefire deal.
"I’m very hopeful for a deal. I’ve been calling for a long time for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages. This is an unlawful act under international law. It’s an atrocity. It’s a war crime," she said in an interview.
"I am hopeful that the families will be able to see their loved ones as soon as possible and that there will be peace restored in this region."
Some 3,000 Hamas-led holy warriors invaded southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages, amid acts of brutality and sexual assault. The Hamas attack started the ongoing war in Gaza, which has also included fighting on other fronts.
On her visit, Edwards described the scene as both eerie and uneasy, a mix of flowers and greenery amid broken windows and shattered glass, the result of intense shootouts and homes being set on fire by the Hamas invaders as they attempted to flush residents out on that October day 14 months ago.
Edwards said she had written to the Paleostinian Authority — which governs parts of the West Bank, and does not have a presence in Gaza — about independent and verifiable reports of sexual torture and violence that occurred on October 7. It was not immediately clear whether Edwards made any reference to Hamas or other terror groups that participated in the attack.
In March, the UN envoy on sex crimes during conflict presented a report at the UN indicating that rape and gang rape likely occurred during the onslaught, that "clear and convincing" evidence shows that hostages were raped while being held in Gaza, and that those currently held captive are still facing such abuse.
Edwards said she would also speak to Israeli authorities about allegations of torture and mistreatment of Paleostinians in Israeli detention.
The UN human rights
...which are usually open to widely divergent definitions...
office issued a report in July, alleging that Paleostinian detainees held by Israel since October 7 have been subjected to torture, including waterboarding, sleep deprivation, electric shocks, the release of dogs, and other forms of mistreatment.
The Israel Defense Forces and Israel Prison Service said at the time that all prisoners are treated in accordance with international law, and that reports of abuse are investigated.
Israel’s High Court of Justice said in September that authorities must abide by the law in their treatment of Paleostinian terror suspects, addressing in particular the notorious Sde Teiman detention facility, where several soldiers have been investigated, and one indicted, over alleged abuse of detainees.
Edwards said Wednesday, "It is very important that when you have two communities that are suffering and live so close together, that we recognize the suffering of each. They are different. They are of different scale. They will be different individually."
"But, you know, everybody counts and every life counts and we should preserve that. And that is the essence of human rights. It’s not about, you know, picking sides. The side is of human rights and the people’s right to live in safety, peace and security," she said.
Edwards said her goal was to document what happened in Israel and to let the hostages and their families know there are people who are fighting for the captives’ safe return, and the return of the bodies of hostages who have been killed in captivity.
Yuval Haran, 38, whose father was killed and whose seven relatives were kidnapped from Kibbutz Be’eri, stood outside the rubble of his parents’ home.
"This isn’t about the Israeli-Paleostinian conflict, it isn’t about politics or right or left, it isn’t about war, it’s about human beings and we need to remember these are human beings that for almost 440 days are being held," he said.
"We don’t care about Dire Revenge. You know, my father was murdered here, but I don’t want Dire Revenge for my father ... I want all the hostages back. I want that we have a quiet and peaceful life. This is what I pray for."
Edwards said: "All of the crimes that have been committed in these last 13, 14 months need independent and impartial investigations."