the way.”316 The current Special Rapporteur, Michael Lynk, has reported that he has yet to receive a response from the Israeli government for his request to access the oPt.317 The Special Rapporteur and its work are essential in providing the international community with a channel through which to raise awareness about the human rights situation in the oPt. Israel also did not issue permission for the expert members of the UN Commission of Inquiry appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate possible war crimes committed during 'Operation Protective Edge' in the Gaza Strip in 2014,318 as well as for the Special Rapporteurs on violence against women,319 on adequate housing, and on torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment,320 for UN Fact-Findings Missions,321 or for staff members of NGOs such as Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch to name a few. In 2014 Israel stated that it would deny entry to all representatives of the UN Human Rights Council who are investigating potential war crimes committed during the summer’s 50-day war.322 The number of examples given shows that the denial of entry is part of an ongoing Israeli policy of non-cooperation, the refusal to be transparent, and an unwillingness to prosecute perpetrators of gross human rights violations. In addition, the denial of entry to UN representatives reflects Israel’s engagement with the UN Human Rights Council as a whole, which has been sporadic at best. They have not engaged with the routine procedures as well. 316 OHCHR News, Special Rapporteur on Occupied Palestinian Territory resigns due to continued lack of access to OPT, 4 January 2016. Available at: http://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/ DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=16922&LangID=E#sthash.8AIbcCrj.dpuf 317 UN News Centre, Israel is denying Palestine’s right to development, says UN human rights expert, 28 October 2016. Available at: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=55426#.WBnszC196Uk 318 Ynetnews, Israel denies entry to members of UN inquiry into alleged war crimes in Gaza, 12 November 2014. Available at: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4591481,00.html 319 Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, Wibisono’s resignation reflects UN system’s inability to pursue justice, 4 January 2016. Available at: http://www.euromedmonitor.org/en/article/1082/ Wibisono%E2%80%99s-resignation-reflects-UN-system%E2%80%99s-inability-to-pursue-justice 320 Al-Haq, Denial of entry to UN Special Rapporteur demonstrates once again Israel’s duplicity in its relations with the UN, 17 December 2008. Available at: http://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/targets/ united-nations/205-denial-of-entry-to-un-special-rapporteur-demonstrates-once-again-israelsduplicity-in-its-relations-with-the-un 321 The Human Rights and International Law Secretariat, The resignation of the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation inside the occupied Palestinian territory highlights the necessity of ending Israel’s impunity for grevious rights abuses. Available at: http://www.rightsecretariat.ps/component/ content/article/85-our-partners/230-the-resignation-of-the-special-rapporteur-on-the-humanrights-situation-inside-the-occupied-palestinian-territory-highlights-the-necessity-of-ending-israel-simpunity-for-grievous-rights-abuses 322 Laura King and Batsheva Sobelman, U.N. human rights investigators denied entry to Israel for Gaza inquiry, Los Angeles Times, 12 November 2014. Available at: http://www.latimes.com/world/ middleeast/la-fg-israel-united-nations-20141112-story.html 88