Main Menu
ع
Human Rights Council Must Pursue Accountability: ‘Goldstone Process’ must go to Security Council
08، Jun 2011

Judge-Richard-GoldstoneDATE: 22 MARCH 2011
REF.: 127/2010

On 21 March 2011, the UN Human Rights Council will discuss the follow up to the ‘Goldstone process’, and in particular the pursuit of criminal accountability with respect to serious violations of international law committed in the context of Israel’s 27 December 2008 – 18 January 2009 offensive on the Gaza Strip, code-named “Operation Cast Lead”.

As Palestinian human rights organisations with longstanding experience pursuing accountability and representing the victims of serious human rights and humanitarian law violations, we have unequivocally concluded that accountability is impossible at the domestic level.

Without the intervention of the international community there will be no justice. Those suspected of committing international crimes will be granted impunity, while their victims will be denied their fundamental right to an effective remedy.

The interests of justice demand that the Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, refer the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

The Human Rights Council must do its utmost to ensure this outcome, and make a clear statement: that human rights apply equally to all people, and that all those who violate the law will be held to account.

Al-Haq
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Addameer Prisoners’ Support and Human Rights Association

- Ends -