Human rights experts call on the parties to accept a ceasefire in Gaza

More than 25 independent UN human rights experts called on all parties to accept the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, achieve justice, access to humanitarian aid, and ensure self-determination for the Palestinian people, expressing their hope that a sustainable truce will lead to an end to the suffering and loss of life in the Gaza Strip, the occupied Palestinian territories, and Israel..

The experts, including Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, expressed in a statement issued today in Geneva their dissatisfaction with Israel’s continued bombing of Gaza indiscriminately, after a short pause from the announcement of the agreement, which resulted in the killing of Palestinian civilians, despite expectations. Calm until the ceasefire comes into effect.

They stressed that it is time for all people and prisoners illegally detained to return to their homes – whether the Israeli prisoners in Gaza or the thousands of Palestinians who have been arbitrarily detained and often tortured in Israeli prisons. The nearly two million people displaced inside Gaza must be allowed to return to their homes. Their homes and support to rebuild their lives without fear of further displacement or persecution.

Experts warned that the challenges ahead are enormous, as the ongoing bombardment has destroyed more than 70% of Gaza’s mainly civilian infrastructure, and stressed that the immediate priority in Gaza is to ensure unrestricted humanitarian relief, early recovery, and compensation for affected people in proportion to the damage inflicted by Israel..

They called on Israel to stop obstructing the investigations being conducted by the International Criminal Court and the Commission of Inquiry in the occupied Palestinian territories and to allow United Nations special procedures to conduct visits, stressing that only ending the occupation and apartheid and ensuring justice is what is long overdue to end the cycles of violence in the region and support lasting peace..