More than 30 UN independent experts urged today the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to undertake his investigative mission into potential Israeli war crimes in Palestine with all deliberate speed. In a letter titled Investigation into the situation in the State of Palestine, the independent UN experts expressed their concern ‘for the pervasive impunity and ever-deteriorating human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, owing to acts that may amount to widespread and systemic violations of international law.’ ‘Your declared intention to visit the occupied Palestinian territory in 2023, Mr. Khan, is a critical step in this direction and we hope that your investigative mission will take place with all deliberate speed,’ added the letter. The UN rights experts urged ICC’s Prosecutor to ‘expedite justice as a crucial step to end impunity and restore international law and a human rights-based order, as the last bastion to stop the spirals of violence and the risks this poses for Palestinians and Israelis alike.’ The letter continued, ‘With the legal instruments at our disposal, we have a shared institutional and moral duty to act to counter these spirals, ensure that past atrocities do not go unpunished and that new ones are prevented.’ ‘In this spirit, we call for more resources to be dedicated to the investigation on the Situation in the State of Palestine, including possible crimes committed by private actors, and to making it more accessible for victims and communities to submit information and contact ICC investigators.’
Source: Palestine News & Information Agency (WAFA)