UN experts call for independent investigations into crimes committed in Israel, Palestine

A group of UN experts called for full and independent investigations into crimes committed in Israel and Palestine in a joint statement on Monday.

Urging Israel, the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and authorities in Gaza to cooperate fully with the investigations, they said "independent investigators must be given the necessary resources, support and access required to conduct prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into crimes allegedly committed by all parties to the conflict."

"The duty to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity, including any act of summary or extrajudicial killing, torture or other outrages on human dignity, is a fundamental legal obligation," they added.

They also called on the international community to work so that all those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity as well as for any other international crimes committed in the conflict are swiftly brought to justice, especially those with command responsibility.

"There is no statute of limitation for such crimes, and they fall under universal jurisdiction, which means that courts in any country can exercise their authority to prosecute those responsible, regardless of their nationality and the country where the crimes were committed."

Israel launched a massive military offensive in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

It has since killed at least 14,854 Palestinians, including 6,150 children and more than 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.