UN Commission of Inquiry Accuses Israel of Crimes Against Humanity in Gaza
Navi Pillay, Chair of the Inquiry in UN, June 2024 Photo: @UNGeneva
June 12, 2024 Hour: 2:02 pm
The text also states that the Israeli authorities are responsible for war crimes, including the use of starvation as a method of war, murder, intentional attacks on civilians and civilian objects, forced transfer, sexual violence, torture and inhuman or cruel treatment, arbitrary detention and violations of personal dignity.
The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories accused Israel of committing crimes against humanity during its offensive in the Gaza Strip.
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In a report, the commission stressed ‘Crimes against humanity were committed by extermination; gender-based persecution of Palestinian men and boys; murder, forced displacement; and torture and inhuman and cruel treatment”.
The president of the Commission, Navi Pillay, said that the parties involved in the conflict must be held accountable to end the cycles of violence and ensure compliance with international law.
Pillay demanded «Israel must immediately cease its military operations and attacks in Gaza, including the assault on Rafah, which has killed hundreds of civilians and displaced hundreds of thousands of people back to unsafe places, without basic services or humanitarian aid».
Hamas and the Palestinian armed groups must immediately cease rocket attacks and release all hostages. Taking hostages constitutes a war crime», he added.
Pillay confirmed that «the immense number of civilian casualties in Gaza and the widespread destruction of civilian objects and infrastructure is inevitable result of the strategy carried out, with the intention of causing maximum damage, ignoring the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution».
The commission also maintained that the evacuation orders issued by the Israeli Army were at times insufficient, unclear and contradictory, and did not allow time for them to be carried out safely.
Although investigations were obstructed by Israel, which prevented the agency from entering the area, the entity managed to collect interviews with victims and witnesses, analysis of forensic medical reports, satellite images and documents from open sources.
The commission demanded an immediate ceasefire from Israel, to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid and stop attacking civilians, also called for compliance with orders of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)before recommending all signatory countries of the Esattuto of Rome to «cooperate fully» with the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Autor: OSG
Fuente: WAFA-RT-Europapresss
