Statement attributable to the President of the Human Rights Council on Commission of Inquiry on Gaza

Geneva, 12 August 2014 -- Further to resolution S-21/1 of the Human Rights Council adopted on 23 July 2014, the President of the Human Rights Council, Baudelaire Ndong Ella (Gabon), was requested to appoint a “commission of inquiry to investigate all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, particularly in the occupied Gaza Strip, in the context of the military operations conducted since 13 June 2014”.

Subsequently, the President approached a number of individuals as potential candidates.

 

Yesterday he issued a statement announcing his decision to appoint three individuals to serve as commissioners.

A number of hours after the President’s statement was issued, one of the appointed commissioners, Ms. Amal Alamuddin, announced that she was unfortunately not in a position to accept this role.

The Council President notes that Ms. Alamuddin is unavailable to serve on the Commission due to prior professional commitments and regrets that the Commission will not benefit from her expertise in the field.

Following yesterday’s announcement, the Commission is now operational. The President of the Human Rights Council will decide on the way forward and on how to best support and strengthen the Commission of Inquiry in its activities.

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