Amnesty calls on UN Human Rights Council to refer situation in Gaza to the International Criminal Court

Amnesty International - The situation in Gaza should be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC), Amnesty International said today (9 March), as it called on the Human Rights Council to pass a resolution that would pave the way for the UN Security Council to make such a referral.

The UN Security Council’s swift action to refer the situation in Libya to the ICC Prosecutor contrasts markedly with its unwillingness so far to address the situation of the Gaza conflict, said Amnesty.

Amnesty International this week handed over a petition to Sihasak Phuangketkeow, President of the UN Human Rights Council, calling on the Council to take this crucial step later this month to ensure international justice for victims of the 2008-2009 conflict in Gaza and southern Israel.

Amnesty International UK Campaign Manager Kristyan Benedict said:

“The victims of the Gaza conflict have been demanding justice for over two years. Those demands have been totally ignored by the Israeli and Hamas authorities. Neither has seriously investigated credible allegations of war crimes.

“It’s now time for the international community to step in and insist on justice and accountability.

“Victims of the conflict must not be ignored any more. The member states of the UN Human Rights Council have a clear opportunity to do the right thing and ensure the situation in Gaza ends up at the ICC.”...
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