Responding to a statement by a US official on Israel’s “biblical right” to the West Bank in Palestine, Suhakam said such statements risked undermining the universality of human rights and could lead to discrimination.

“Such assertions can lead to policies that discriminate against individuals based on their religious identity, contravening established international human rights standards.

“Human rights are universal, inalienable, and must not be predicated upon religious beliefs or affiliations,” the commission said in a statement.

It referenced Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that all humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

Article 2 meanwhile states that everyone is entitled to all human rights without distinction of any kind, including their religion.

Suhakam was responding to US ambassador to the United Nations, Elise Stefanik, who reportedly said Israel had “biblical dominion” over the West Bank.

The commission reiterated its concern about the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and urged the international community to intensify efforts towards ensuring sustainable peace in the region by addressing the root causes of the conflict.