"Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding." - Albert Einstein
A commission at the United Nations published a report detailing acts of violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, accusing both sides of war crimes and arguing that the immense loss of life in the Gaza Strip amounted to a crime against humanity.
The Detailed Findings on War Crimes in the Gaza Conflict
The report on war crimes in the Gaza conflict consisted of two parallel investigations, one focused on the Oct. 7 attack on Israel led by the armed Palestinian group Hamas, and the other on Israel’s military response. It is one of the most detailed examinations thus far of the conflict and provides legal analysis that is likely to be used in future criminal proceedings related to the war in Gaza.
Immense Human Cost
According to the report, 800 civilians were among the more than 1,200 killed by Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups involved in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. More than 250 additional people — including 36 children — were taken hostage, the commission said. The commission accused Israeli forces of responding to the Hamas-led attacks in such a way that amounted to collective punishment against Palestinians, with a lethal toll on civilians that constituted a crime against humanity.
Impact on Children
The report also highlighted the conflict’s heavy toll on children, not only in terms of those killed by both sides but also in the large number who were orphaned. It accused Israel of failing to ensure the ability to collect forensic evidence, particularly in regards to the accusations of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas, “undermining the possibility of future judicial proceedings, accountability and justice.”
Legal Implications
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the war crimes in the Gaza conflict was led by Navi Pillay, a former U.N. human rights chief; Chris Sidoti, an Australian expert on human rights law; and Miloon Kothari, an Indian expert on human rights and social policy. The three-person panel conducted interviews with victims and witnesses and also examined satellite imagery, forensic medical records, and open-source data like photographs and videos.
The Accusations
The commission noted that Israel did not participate in the inquiry and had accused the commission of bias. The commission also said Israel obstructed its efforts to communicate with key witnesses in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. Because it was unable to enter Gaza, the commission conducted many of its interviews remotely. It also met with victims and witnesses who escaped to Egypt and Turkey to flee the conflict.
Conclusion
The commission said the widespread use of heavy weapons, and air and artillery strikes in densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip made vast civilian casualties inevitable and constituted “an intentional and direct attack on the civilian population, particularly affecting women and children.”
Comments