Violence By Both State & Non-State Actors In Israel & Palestine Will Be Key Focus : UN Inquiry Commission

The newly appointed members of the Human Rights Council-mandated Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, held their first press conference at the United Nations Office at Geneva, setting out their priorities and responding to questions on accountability, cooperation and recent political developments.

The Commission is chaired by Srinivasan Muralidhar(former High Court Chief Justice from India) with Florence Mumba(former Judge of the Supreme Court of Zambia and former Member of International Commissions on Yugoslavia and Cambodia) and Chris Sidoti (Australian barrister) as Commissioners.

Opening the press conference, Chairperson Muralidhar said the Commission was mandated to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.

He underlined that the Commission would examine violations by all duty bearers, whether state or non-state actors, and described it as an independent, people-centred body that intended to listen closely to those living through the conflict on both sides.

Responding to questions on the Commission's immediate areas of work, Muralidhar said that bodily harm caused by both state and non-state actors would be a central focus of the inquiry.

“We have identified bodily harm caused by both state and non-state actors as a key focus, including attacks by armed Palestinian militias,” he said, adding that the Commission would also look at violations affecting children, journalists and media workers, as well as incidents during ceasefire periods.

Asked about the recently announced “Board of Peace” initiative announced by President Trump and whether it could undermine or compete with the United Nations' accountability mechanisms, Muralidhar said the Commission did not see any conflict between the two.

He noted that the Board of Peace had been set up pursuant to a plan placed before and voted upon by the UN Security Council. “As a Commission of Inquiry, our task is to investigate violations of human rights. That is the mandate the UN has given us, and we will continue that work,” he said.

Muralidhar added that he expected any peace initiative to accommodate the interests of all people in the conflict zone and stated that he did not see anything in the peace plan that could hinder the Commission's work. He also said the Commission expected full cooperation from all authorities in both territories.

Muralidhar disclosed that one of his first steps as Chair was to write to the Israeli authorities seeking cooperation with the Commission. He expressed hope that recent developments on the ground would lead to more constructive engagement, emphasising that the Commission's work was intended to benefit both Palestinians and Israelis.

On funding constraints, he acknowledged that a lack of resources had earlier prevented detailed examination of issues such as arms transfers and settler violence, describing the situation as part of a broader resource crunch across the UN system.

Muralidhar stressed that the body was an investigative, not a judicial, authority.

“Our findings are open to any further body that might use them as evidence,” he said, adding that the Commission followed rigorous standards of evidence gathering and analysis aligned with international tribunals, so that its work could be relied upon in future adjudicatory processes.

Questions were also raised about the situation facing the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Commissioner Sidoti observed that for decades UNRWA had effectively fulfilled core obligations towards Palestinians that otherwise rested with Israel as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention.

"Israel has been the occupying power since 1967 in the West Bank, so it has all the obligations as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Many of these obligations have been fulfilled by the UNRWA, assisted by donations from member states. If Israel is getting rid of UNRWA, the government and Israeli taxpayers will have to pay billions to provide education, healthcare, and social services themselves. Israel should think very carefully before it rejects the work UNRWA hass done. Because of UNRWA, children had right to education, old people had access to health, these are fundamental human rights, which UNRWA has been providing to Palestinians, and if UNRWA is unable to do it, the obligation falls on Israel and Israeli taxpayers," Sudoti said.

Muralidhar said that actions such as the demolition of UNRWA premises should not be seen as halting the agency's mandate, adding that the destruction of a building could not stop UNRWA's work or the responsibilities flowing from international law.

"What they tried to do is demolish a compound of UNRWA in Jerusalem, if I am not mistaken. The destruction of a building of UNRWA should not be seen as stopping the work of UNRWA. I hope UNRWA does not see it as a stoppage of its work. Its work will continue, it's part of the UN's mandate. Demolishing a building does not stop UNRWA's work. Israel should not be thinking that by demolishing a building of UNRWA they can stop the work of UNRWA," he said.

Justice Mumba voiced serious concern over the killing of journalists, stating that such acts suggested attempts to conceal wrongdoing and urging media professionals not to be deterred from reporting.

In his closing remarks, Muralidhar assured affected communities that the Commission adhered to strict witness protection protocols and a “do no harm” principle. He said all information received would be carefully safeguarded and analysed to meet the highest evidentiary standards for use before international courts or domestic jurisdictions exercising universal jurisdiction.

“The work of this commission holds hope for the future of the rule of law and for those seeking closure and justice,” he said.