Recent statements by US officials asserting a “biblical right” to certain territories are concerning, as they risk undermining the universality of human rights and may perpetuate discrimination.
On Tuesday, at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, US ambassador to the United Nations Elise Stefanik has expressed the belief that Israel has “biblical” dominion over the occupied West Bank. Such assertions can lead to policies that discriminate against individuals based on their religious identity, contravening established international human rights standards.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) proclaims in Article 1 that “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”. Article 2 further emphasises that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration, without distinction of any kind including religion.
Additionally, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) guarantees the right to self-determination and protection from discrimination, reinforcing that no state or individual should invoke religious doctrine to deny these rights to others.
We are deeply concerned about the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, including recent military operations resulting in civilian casualties and the destruction of essential infrastructure.
Therefore, we urge the international community to intensify efforts towards a just and sustainable peace in the region, addressing the root causes of the conflict without bias or discrimination.
This includes recognising the rights of all peoples to self-determination and ensuring that policies are grounded in universal human rights principles rather than religious narratives.
We support the ceasefire agreement in Gaza as a crucial step towards solving the crisis and protecting civilian lives. The international community must not allow the ceasefire to overshadow the need for comprehensive action towards ending the occupation, restoring the rights of the Palestinian people and holding accountable those responsible for crimes against humanity.
Suhakam is the the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia.