UN calls for investigation into war crimes in Gaza
Two independent UN experts have called for an investigation into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the Gaza war.
"Independent investigators must be given the necessary resources, support and access to conduct prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into crimes allegedly committed by all parties to the conflict," they said in Geneva.
The expert did not give any examples. In recent weeks, human rights activists have named several points that could constitute crimes: The abduction of more than 200 people in the October 7 terror raid on Israel into the Gaza Strip and militants in Gaza abusing civilians as human shields, as well as the Israeli closure of Gaza as collective punishment and the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Israeli bombardments resulting in thousands of deaths.
The experts recalled that courts in any country can investigate and try those responsible for such crimes. They welcomed the work of the International Criminal Court and the UN Commission of Inquiry on Israel and the Occupied Territories, which collected evidence in the Gaza Strip, Israel and the occupied West Bank.
Morris Tidball-Binz is the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions. Alice Jill Edwards is the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment. Such rapporteurs are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council on the basis of their expertise. They report regularly on their topic; decisions can only be made by the Human Rights Council of 47 countries, each of which is elected to the Council for three years.
- The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, particularly in the Gaza region, have been marked by numerous allegations of human rights violations, including war crimes such as the use of civilians as human shields.
- The UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, Alice Jill Edwards, has highlighted the importance of addressing these human rights violations in the context of ongoing conflicts, emphasizing the need for accountability and justice.
- In response to the UN's call for an investigation into war crimes in Gaza, various human rights organizations have also urged for thorough investigations into health issues, exacerbated by the conflicts, such as the lack of adequate medical facilities and supplies in the region, which have led to substantial health disparities and suffering among the population.
Source: www.dpa.com
