The United Nations commission investigating possible human rights violations in Israel and the Palestinian territories has faced obstacles in their efforts to gather evidence, with Israel accused of obstructing their work.
Members of the commission, formed in 2021, have been met with a lack of cooperation and active obstruction from Israeli authorities, particularly in relation to the Oct. 7 attack and the subsequent conflict with Hamas. Despite this, the commission has shared a significant amount of evidence with the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Navi Pillay, the former United Nations human rights chief leading the commission, stated that they have investigated crimes committed by both Hamas and Israeli forces in Gaza. Over 5,000 documents, including video evidence, have been shared with the ICC, which is responsible for trying individuals on charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
Israel has accused the commission of bias and refused to allow them to visit the region. In January, Israeli medical personnel were instructed not to cooperate with the commission. However, the commission remains committed to seeking accountability for human rights violations.
The ICC opened an investigation into potential crimes in Gaza and the West Bank in March 2021, but progress towards prosecutions has been slow. Ms. Pillay expressed hope for advancements in the ICC investigations this year.
The commission is expected to report its findings on the Gaza conflict to the Human Rights Council in June and to the U.N. General Assembly in October. The ongoing investigation highlights the complexities and challenges of addressing human rights violations in the region.
