New York - Doha: Europe and the Arabs - Agencies
The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel called for ensuring the protection of civilian lives and “compliance with international law to prevent the continuation of atrocities,” in light of the continued Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since the seventh of this month.
The Committee stressed that “full compliance with basic international legal obligations is essential at this critical moment,” stressing the need to protect civilians and civilian property, and to follow the basic principles of necessity, distinction, precaution and proportionality without exception, regardless of the circumstances that led to the use of force.
The committee also stressed that the only way to end violence and achieve sustainable peace is by addressing the root causes of the conflict, including ending the illegal occupation of Palestinian land and recognizing the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, noting that the current escalation “has angered the conscience of humanity.”
It is noteworthy that the United Nations Human Rights Council granted the Independent International Commission of Inquiry its mandate on May 27, 2021 to investigate “within the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and inside Israel all alleged violations of international humanitarian law and all alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law that preceded 13 April 2021 and has occurred since this date.”
In July 2021, the President of the Human Rights Council announced the appointment of Navanethem Pillay (from South Africa), Milon Kothari (from India) and Chris Sidoti (from Australia) to be the three members of the Commission of Inquiry.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations arrived in Doha to hold consultations with the Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister on the crisis in the Middle East, expressing his appreciation, gratitude and support for Qatari mediation initiatives, especially for the release of hostages held in Gaza.
In a statement issued by his spokesman yesterday, Saturday, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that he felt...
  During the past days, there was optimism over what appeared to be a growing consensus in the international community, including countries supporting Israel, “on the need to stop the fighting on humanitarian grounds, to facilitate the release of hostages in Gaza, the evacuation of citizens of other countries, and to significantly expand the scope of humanitarian access to the people of Gaza.” ".
Instead, Guterres said he was surprised by "an unprecedented escalation of bombing and its devastating effects, which undermines the achievement of those humanitarian goals."
Noting the breakdown in communications from Gaza, the Secretary-General expressed concern about United Nations staff who are in Gaza to provide humanitarian assistance.
Guterres stressed the need to change the current situation, reiterating his strong call for an immediate ceasefire for humanitarian purposes, with the unconditional release of hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid on a scale commensurate with the enormous needs of the people of Gaza, which faces “a humanitarian catastrophe unfolding before our eyes.”
He added: "I want to repeat what I said yesterday: This is the moment of truth. Everyone must bear their responsibilities. History will judge us all."
The Secretary-General also spoke by phone with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, where they discussed the current situation in the Middle East and coordination of humanitarian efforts for civilians in Gaza.