Gaza: A Palestinian individual suffocated as a result of an attack by colonists near Bethlehem, raising further concerns about the ongoing tensions in the region. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States has expressed strong support for the recent call by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk. Trk has urged for international investigators to be granted access to all parts of the Gaza Strip to aid in collecting and preserving evidence amidst the continued recovery of bodies from the rubble of destroyed buildings.
The General Secretariat emphasized the critical nature of Trk's appeal, particularly in light of findings from recovery operations that have unveiled the deaths of numerous victims, including women and children. These circumstances necessitate thorough documentation and investigation under international law, especially given the High Commissioner's significant concerns regarding potential serious violations, including war crimes, by Israeli forces.
The Secretariat highlighted the legal obligation to preserve evidence of Israeli violations, ensuring justice is served. It stressed that neither the removal of rubble nor the passage of time should hinder the accessibility and independent documentation of evidence.
Moreover, the importance of granting international investigators safe and unobstructed access to the Gaza Strip was underscored. This access would allow for the collection and preservation of evidence, identification of victims, preservation of forensic information, and recording of burial locations, thereby informing families of their loved ones' fates.
The Secretariat also affirmed the rights of families with missing members to know the fate of their loved ones, identify and bury their remains, and understand the circumstances leading to their deaths. It insisted that evidence must be preserved according to international standards, ensuring its integrity and chain of custody, safeguarding victims' rights, and enabling international investigative mechanisms to function without hindrance.
The General Secretariat called for international community support for Palestinian authorities in their search and recovery efforts, emphasizing the need for equipment and machinery to access affected sites while respecting the sanctity of the deceased and the dignity of victims and their families.
It highlighted the necessity of preventing impunity for perpetrators and the importance of conducting independent, transparent investigations into potential grave violations, holding those responsible accountable under international law.
The Secretariat concluded by affirming that preserving evidence protects the truth and victims' rights, serving as a crucial safeguard for justice and accountability. It urged the international community to take action to ensure evidence is neither destroyed nor lost and to facilitate international investigative mechanisms' access to the Gaza Strip.