Khaberni - Member of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Chris Sidoti, said that the committee has reached sufficient evidence proving the Israeli occupation forces committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.
Sidoti explained that the UN-affiliated Independent Commission's investigation into genocide in Gaza lasted two years, proving these crimes based on evidence collected by the commission itself, according to Al Jazeera.
He pointed out that the investigation team gathered more than 16,000 items of evidence including photos and videos that are being verified and linked to witness statements according to United Nations protocols.
The UN Human Rights Council established the Independent International Commission to investigate the Occupied Palestinian Territories—including East Jerusalem and Israel—in May 2021.
According to the spokesperson, the committee continues to work in the same manner it has adopted over the past four years since its establishment.
This includes speaking with witnesses, victims, and other parties with direct knowledge of what occurred, in addition to relying on satellite images, video clips, and digital evidence analysis tools.
The investigations of the committee are not limited to describing the crimes, but also include identifying responsibilities according to Sidoti, revealing that the committee identified in many cases the Israeli military forces behind the committed crimes.
It also identified - in other cases - individuals, leaders, and officials in the Israeli government and military who gave orders to commit these crimes.
On November 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza Strip.
Regarding the entities that receive the committee's reports, Sidoti said the documents are submitted to the UN Human Rights Council and the General Assembly, and are published publicly; there are no special unaccessible reports.
Responding to the skepticism expressed by some parties about the investigation's results, the spokesperson emphasized that the criticisms are limited to the Israeli government, its representatives, and the United States, while the committee does not receive any remarks from entities he described as serious.
Sidoti described the committee's investigations as intensive, serious, reliable, and widely accepted globally.
The Palestinian victim toll has risen to 68,531 martyrs and 170,402 injured since the beginning of the genocide on October 7, 2023, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Health in Gaza Strip.
