The ICJ issued today a statement during the interactive dialogue with the ongoing independent, international commission of inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, denouncing the failure by Israel to ensure accountability for international law violations.
The statement could not be delivered due to the limited time provided for NGO Statements.
The statement reads as follows:
“Mr. President,
So far this year, Israeli forces have already killed at least 48 Palestinians during operations in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Among them, veteran journalist Shirin Abu Aqleh, seemingly shot dead by an Israeli sniper on 11 May 2022.
Once again, Israel has failed to investigate these deaths. Such failure is the result of a patently flawed military judicial system, shielding, instead of holding to account, Israeli security forces members responsible for crimes under international law in the OPT.
Moreover, rather than performing their civilian oversight function, institutions such as the Israeli Supreme Court rubber-stamp the military judicial authorities’ decisions. Most recently, without proper examination and relying on secret evidence, the Supreme Court endorsed the Military Advocate-General’s decision not to investigate the killing of four boys killed by an airstrike while playing on a beach during operation “Protective Edge” in Gaza in 2014.
Given that Israel is unwilling and unable to genuinely investigate and prosecute crimes under international law committed by its security forces in the OPT, accountability may only be achieved through international mechanisms, such as the Commission of Inquiry.
It is therefore imperative that this Council and Member States continue to support the Commission’s work, including by ensuring it is adequately staffed and funded to deliver on its mandate.
Thank you.”
Contact:
Massimo Frigo, ICJ UN Representative, e: massimo.frigo(a)icj.org, t: +41797499949