An investigation by a United Nations commission into the October 7 attacks on Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza has found both Palestinian armed groups and Israel guilty of war crimes. The panel, led by former UN human rights chief Navi Pillay, accused Israel of committing crimes against humanity during the conflict.
The report, released recently, provides a detailed analysis of the events since October 7. While it does not carry penalties, it sets the stage for potential legal action at the International Court of Justice and other international criminal proceedings. Israel’s lack of cooperation with the investigation was noted, with the country disputing the panel’s assessment of its actions.
The report highlighted that Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, with the help of civilians, killed and tortured individuals during the assault on Israel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths, including 800 civilians. Additionally, 252 people, including 36 children, were taken hostage.
The report detailed instances of abductions involving violence and degrading treatment, with women being used as trophies by male perpetrators. Allegations of rape by Palestinian militants were mentioned, but could not be independently verified due to lack of cooperation from Israel.
Hamas denied accusations of sexual violence against Israeli women. The commission also noted evidence of desecration of corpses, including sexualized acts, decapitations, and burning.
The commission also found Israel guilty of war crimes, including the use of starvation as a weapon through a total siege of Gaza. The use of heavy weapons in civilian areas was deemed a direct attack on the population, resulting in a high number of civilian casualties, particularly among women and children.
The conflict had devastating consequences…
2024-06-12 11:32:11
Post from www.nytimes.com