UN Commission Urges Global Action to Help Palestinians Achieve Self-Determination

The UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory urged on Tuesday, member states to use all available means to maintain the ceasefire and provide wide-ranging international support for the right of Palestinians to self-determination and the establishment of a Palestinian State.

On Tuesday, the Commission presented its report to the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, which deals with social, humanitarian and cultural matters, focusing much of its work on human rights issues.

The Commission underlined that “the Zionist entity is responsible for committing four acts of genocide in Gaza with the specific intent to destroy the Palestinians” in the territory, and found that the Zionist officials “incited the commission of genocide.” The Commission’s head, Navi Pillay, said that the member states must also focus on ensuring justice and accountability for all victims, by supporting the International Criminal Court in its investigations, and by exercising universal jurisdiction to conduct their own investigations, including investigations of their dual-national citizens suspected of committing crimes.

Regarding Gaza, the Commission found that the Zionist officials showed a clear and consistent intent to establish permanent military control over Gaza and change its demographic composition, and while “the civilian infrastructure and natural resources, essential for the survival of the civilian population in the corridors and buffer zone, have been destroyed, the land has been fragmented, and Palestinians have been forcibly displaced. The Zionist officials have publicly endorsed plans to transfer the population, build settlements, and annex territory.”