Doha: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk dismissed on Wednesday the forcible transfer of populations from occupied territories as absolutely prohibited. The right to self-determination is a fundamental principle of international law, and must be upheld by all states, as recently reaffirmed by the International Court of Justice, Turk said in a statement, stressing the importance of moving to the next phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

According to Qatar News Agency, the same view has been echoed by Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967, saying any attempts to forcibly resettle Gazans were unacceptable and violate international law.