Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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January 22, 2026 International law
On Thursday, as President Donald Trump formally launched his Gaza Peace Council, independent UN human rights experts said they would continue to seek justice and accountability for crimes committed by all sides in the war between Hamas and Israel.
“The Peace Council was established in accordance with a plan submitted to the Security Council, which was put to a vote and adopted,” recalled Srinivasan Muralidhar, Chairman of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, which was established by the UN Human Rights Council in May 2021.
Accusations of genocide
Last September, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, who was then serving as Chairperson of the Commission, stated that Israel committed genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. This accusation relates to the military actions that began after the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people. Israel has vehemently denied the accusation of genocide.
Muralidhar emphasized the Commission's obligation to investigate human rights violations committed by all parties to the conflict and in both territories. He also expressed hope that the experts' previous findings "will become part of some judicial mechanism" that will ensure justice for both peoples.
This year, the Commission plans to investigate "attacks by armed Palestinian groups," the chairman continued, emphasizing the independent nature of the group's work. Responding to questions about the Peace Council, he expressed hope that the plan being implemented "will take into account the interests of all people in the conflict zone."
The Commission Chairman also noted that due to a lack of funding, the experts were unable to investigate arms shipments and incidents of settler violence, despite this being within the commission's mandate.
Death of journalists
At a press conference in Geneva, the independent experts – who are not UN staff and are not remunerated for their work – also condemned the reported deaths of three Palestinian journalists in central Gaza in an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday.
"When a journalist is killed, it means there is something to hide," said Commission member Florence Mumba.
The role of UNRWA
Experts also commenteddemolition of the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem, highlighting the agency's key role in supporting Palestinians for decades.
"Israel should think very carefully before rejecting the work that UNRWA has done—important work that has absolved Israel of its obligations," Chris Sidoti said. "Of course, this will have implications for human rights… children have a right to education, all people have a right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health."
New composition of the Commission
Navi Pillay retired last October at the age of 83. Following her, her Commission colleagues Chris Sidoti and Miloon Kothari resigned.
In November, the Human Rights Council appointed a new Commission, reinstating Australian Chris Sidoti and lawyers Srinivasan Muralidhar of India and Florence Mumba of Zambia.
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