Statement Gaza 20150630 English [PDF]
Gaza: Human Rights Now welcomes the recommendations made by the Commission of Inquiry and calls on the ICC prosecutor to immediately start criminal investigations over the all alleged crimes committed during the 2014 Gaza Conflict.
June 30, 2015
On 22 June 2015, the United Nations Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict (hereinafter “the Commission”) released its fact finding report over the recent Gaza conflict. After extensive investigations over the significant numbers of incidents, the Commission concluded that serious violations of international humanitarian and human rights law had been committed by both parties, some of which may constitute war crimes.[1]
Human Rights Now (HRN), a Tokyo based international human rights NGO, commends the work of the Commission and supports the Commission’s findings and recommendations.[2] In particular, we call on the international community to face up to the disproportionate harms against Palestinian people as a consequence of the conflict. As the Commission found, 1462 Palestine civilians, including 299 women and 551 children, were killed by the Israel Military.[3] Israel has targeted critical infrastructure such as electricity, and caused devastating impacts on a wide range of fundamental human rights until now.
The Commission suggested that “IDF attacks on residential buildings, the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and the destruction of entire neighborhoods etc.”, raise serious questions as to whether “Israel’s established military policy itself may violate the law of war”.[4] Moreover, the Commission’s finding regarding a series of Israeli attacks on UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) schools sheltering civilians which resulted in over 40 civilian’s deaths shows persistent patterns of alleged war crimes.
We echo the Commission’s assessment that “those responsible for suspected violations of international law at all levels of the political and military establishments must be brought to justice.” [5] The prevailing impunity for alleged crimes in Gaza and the West Bank by Israeli forces, as well as Israel’s persistent failure to implement the recommendations made by the UN mechanism, significantly contribute to a recurrence of gross human rights violations against the Palestinian people. The international community must take all necessary measures to put an end to impunity, injustice and further recurrence.
HRN calls on the ICC prosecutor to immediately start criminal investigations. Further delay for justice would endanger human rights of people in Gaza.
HRN also calls all member states to cooperate to the ICC’s criminal investigations and all other efforts to achieve justice and accountability over the all acts violating international law in the Occupied Palestine Territory.
Further, HRN calls on the UN Human Rights Council to set up effective mechanisms to ensure accountability over the alleged violations as well as implementation of entire UN recommendations on the State of Israel in relation to the human rights situation of people in the Occupied Palestine Territory.