NCHR alerts international rights bodies, Criminal Court on Israeli violations in Gaza

AMMAN — The National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) has sent a legal memorandum to the United Nations on Israeli's "systematic and ongoing violations of international law" in the Gaza Strip.

The NCHR said that the move was in view of its role in protecting human rights and as part of the international community's work to ensuring compliance with international humanitarian law.

"The memorandum was addressed to the secretary-general of the United Nations, the high commissioner for Human Rights and several ambassadors accredited to the Kingdom, according to an NCHR statement.  

The agency said that the memo has been also sent to UN organisations in Jordan, the Human Rights Council, prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of Journalists, the Inter-Parliamentarians Union, the under-secretary-general for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the director general of the World Health Organisation, as well as the UN special coordinator for the Mideast peace process.

The memorandum included documentation and the legal basis of the crimes committed by the Israeli occupation authorities against the Palestinian people in Gaza, which amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, statement said. 

"These crimes include the killing of civilians, genocide, displacement and demolition of homes and property, collective punishment, and other grave violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, [including] the direct targeting of journalists, the destruction of property, the attacks on civilian hospitals and/or medical personnel, and places of worship."

The NCHR called on international entities to shoulder their moral responsibilities and take legal procedures and measures to ensure that the occupation authorities are held accountable for the crimes they committed.

The agency also urged international institutions to halt the Israeli aggression on Gaza and open humanitarian corridors for the entry of medical and relief aid to the besieged strip.