Independent probe into war crimes must be carried out in Gaza: IJU

An independent and impartial investigation into the crimes committed in Gaza must be carried out to ensure accountability, the International Jurists Union (IJU) – Geneva office said today.

“What the Israeli occupation is committing today in the Gaza Strip is a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and most of the actions are considered as war crimes and crimes against humanity that violate all international laws related to human rights,” it said in a statement.

“Today, Israel continues the massive destruction of Gaza and continues its illegal occupation and siege, and for over 16 years has declared the entire Gaza Strip a “hostile entity”, imposing a land, air and maritime closure, and subjugating Palestinians to measures of collective punishment, in violation of international law.”

It has now also cut off electricity and water for Gaza’s entire population, the statement continued, another example of “a collective punishment forbidden by all international human rights laws.”

The IJU said it demands an immediate ceasefire, respect for UN resolutions, respect for the rights of peoples, protection for civilians, and the commencement of peace negotiations to allow the Palestinian people to regain their legitimate rights to independence, land and peace.

It also “calls the UN to prevent a new war crime that Israel seeks to commit by asking the residents of the northern Gaza Strip to move to the south and stop Israel’s attempt to transfer the humanitarian crisis to neighbouring countries.”

Israel’s “settler colonial apartheid regime” must be dismantled “on both sides of the Green Line,” it added, and for sanctions to be placed on “Israel’s illegal occupation, apartheid and acts of aggression through the application of an arms embargo, economic sanctions and countermeasures against Israel.

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