Two independent UN experts have called for an investigation into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the war in Gaza.
“Independent investigators must be given the necessary resources, support, and access required to conduct prompt, thorough, and impartial investigations into crimes allegedly committed by all parties to the conflict,” they said in Geneva on Monday.
The experts – Morris Tidball-Binz, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, and arbitrary executions; and Alice Jill Edwards the UN special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment – did not give any specific examples.
In recent weeks, human rights activists have named several actions that could constitute war crimes.
These include the abduction by Hamas fighters of more than 200 people in the attack on Israel on Oct. 7 and militants in the Gaza Strip using civilians as human shields.
Others are Israel effectively sealing off Gaza at the start of the war, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Israeli bombings resulting in thousands of deaths.
The experts said that courts in any country can investigate and try those responsible for such crimes.
Decisions based on their advice can only be made by the UN’s Human Rights Council.
dpa/NAN
