Spain to Investigate Human Rights Violations in Gaza in Coordination with ICC

The Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office announced on Thursday that Madrid will open an investigation into human rights violations in Gaza as part of its cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC). The State Attorney General confirmed that a working group has been created to gather evidence of violations of international law in Gaza and make it available to the competent authorities, in line with Spain’s obligations regarding international cooperation and human rights.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the initiative responds to recommendations by the UN-mandated Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Palestinian Territories, which urged state parties to cooperate with the ICC investigation. The decree issued by the Prosecutor stressed that Spain is “obligated to provide the necessary cooperation and assistance,” legitimizing the opening of such an investigation to ensure effective international cooperation. It further underlined that any direct or indirect evidence collected in Spain must be incorporated into a procedural framework to allow its use in judicial proceedings.

The Prosecutor emphasized that such collective evidence could serve as proof of crimes committed in Gaza. The move comes after the ICC in 2024 issued arrest warrants against Zionist officials for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Spain is also one of the countries supporting South Africa’s case before the International Court of Justice, which accuses the Zionist entity of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.