Palestine: Peace proposal was always precarious - Press Conference | United Nations скачать в хорошем качестве

Palestine: Peace proposal was always precarious - Press Conference | United Nations

Hybrid press briefing by the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, following their presentation to the General Assembly's Third Committee. Speakers are Ms. Navanethem Pillay (South Africa) and Mr. Chris Sidoti (Australia), who both briefed reporters virtually. Chris Sidoti, one of the members of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) said the 20-point “peace proposal” for Gaza, was “precarious right from the start” and “with fighting taking place in Rafah and Israeli bombing having resumed in the Rafah area, it is more precarious than ever.” Sidoti and Navi Pillay, who is also a member of the COI, briefed reporters in New York virtually after presenting their report to the General Assembly’s Third Committee. Pillay said, “analysis concluded that the State of Israel is responsible for the commission of four genocidal acts in Gaza with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza. We also found that the Israeli President, Prime Minister, and former Defence Minister have incited the commission of genocide.” She said, “these findings remain fully valid and continue to serve as a cornerstone of the Commission's ongoing efforts to ensure accountability.” Pillay, who is a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said, “Israeli officials have demonstrated a clear and concise intent to establish permanent military control over Gaza and to change its demographic composition.” She expressed deep concern that “changes already made to land and borders have not been meaningfully reversed, despite the recent ceasefire, and statements by Israeli officials make it clear that objections of ethnic cleansing and the establishment of settlement in the Gaza Strip remain firmly in place.” Sidoti for his part said, “the criminal activities of both the Palestinian militant leadership and the Israeli political and military leadership must end, and they will only end when those who are responsible for the crimes are held to account.” He said, “one of the failures of the 20-point proposal is that there is no provision for accountability. There can be no peace in Israel and Palestine without accountability. There can be no justice in Israel and Palestine without accountability.” Sidoti said, “the hostages have been released - apart from 12 bodies that are still being sought; the Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been released; but humanitarian and aid has not been resumed at the levels of were agreed and there is not a complete ceasefire taking place.” The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory was established by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate alleged violations of international law and human rights abuses in the region.