The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel

On 27 May 2021, the Human Rights Council held a special session on “the Grave Human Rights Situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem” and adopted the resolution “Ensuring respect for international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel”.

Through resolution A/HRC/RES/S-30/1, the Human Rights Council decided to “urgently establish an ongoing, independent, international commission of inquiry to investigate, in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel, all alleged violations of international humanitarian law and abuses of international human rights law leading up and since 13 April 2021”. The resolution further requested the commission of inquiry to “investigate all underlying root causes of recurrent tensions, instability and protraction of conflict, including systematic discrimination and repression based on national, ethnic, racial or religious identity”. The commission of inquiry is mandated to report to the Human Rights Council and to the General Assembly on an annual basis.

In April 2024, the Human Rights Council passed two resolutions, in which it requested the Commission of Inquiry to present reports to the Human Rights Council on (i) settlers and settler groups involved in acts of terror, violence or intimidation against Palestinian civilians and the actions taken by Israel and third States to ensure accountability for violations of international law (A/HRC/RES/55/32); and (ii) the transfer or sale of arms, munitions, parts, components and dual use items to Israel (including those used during the Israeli military operation in Gaza since 7 October 2023) and analyse legal consequences of these transfers, including those related to State responsibility (A/HRC/RES/55/28).

Public Hearings

As part of its mandate and its investigations, the Commission of Inquiry held a first series of public hearings from 7 to 11 November 2022, in Geneva. The hearings focused on the closure orders and terrorism designation of a number of Palestinian NGOs, and on the incident surrounding the killing of the journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Victims, witnesses, civil society organizations, and legal representatives were invited to provide relevant testimony to the Commission in this forum. From 20 to 24 March 2023, the Commission organized a second round of hearings, in Geneva, which focused on the shrinking space for civil society in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel, along with additional testimony on the killing of Shireen Abu Akleh. The Commission heard from human rights defenders and activists, women human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, family members of victims, cultural activists, and individuals who have been subjected to, or witnessed, attacks, restrictions and harassment by authorities and non-State actors. From 11 to 12 March 2025, the Commission held its third round of hearings to gather testimony from victims of sexual, reproductive and other forms of gender-based violence committed by the Israeli Security Forces and Israeli settlers. Watch the full testimonies here.

Statement by the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel at the opening of public hearings in Geneva
English
11 March 2025

Statement by the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel at the closing of public hearings in Geneva
English
24 March 2023

Statement by the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel at the opening of public hearings in Geneva
English
20 March 2023

Statement by the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel at the opening of public hearings in Geneva
English
7 November 2022

Statement by the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel at the closing of public hearings in Geneva
English
11 November 2022