Since the beginning of the atrocities, Adalah and partner NGOs have sent complaints to the Israeli authorities demanding independent investigations into international law violations that constituted suspected war crimes against Gaza. But as many observers know, Israel rarely, if ever, conducts proper investigations into these issues or prosecutes those responsible for these offenses.So why do Adalah and other NGOs continue to demand them? Why did the UN Human Rights Council last week order the establishment of an international commission of inquiry into these events? This work for accountability matters because:
A lack of accountability fosters a culture of impunity and lawlessness; a culture of justice must be promoted to counter this;
Accountability for violations serves as a deterrence against future violations; it pressures perpetrators to abide by international law;
Victims are entitled to remedies for violations of their rights; tackling the justice crisis in the OPT fights for these rights.
These values, including respect for the right to life and dignity, are what drive our work and lead us to continue to demand accountability.
