New York, USA - Recent

Storyline:
Political will is key to holding responsible parties accountable in the Israel-Hamas conflict, said Chris Sidoti, one of three commissioners who led the independent UN investigation that concluded last week that both sides had committed crimes against humanity.

Following the widespread destruction in Gaza, with thousands left homeless and a tragic unfolding humanitarian crisis since last October, the UN investigation concluded Israel committed crimes against humanity, forced starvation, extermination, and the murder of Palestinians. At the same time, it accused Palestinian military groups of war crimes.

Speaking to China Global Television Network (CGTN) just before the official report was presented to the Human Rights Council on Wednesday, Sidoti said the investigation had to surmount numerous obstacles.

When asked his view of the real situation in Gaza, Sidoti underscored the cost in human lives.

The investigator stressed a legal path remains open to prosecute those responsible for war crimes and human rights abuses.

Israel accused the independent investigating team of "attempting to justify" Hamas' actions, while Hamas has rejected all accusations.

Shotlist:
New York, USA - Recent:
FILE: UN Headquarters, New York City - Date Unknown
1. Various of UN headquarters building, UN flag, logo at headquarters;
UN Headquarters, New York City - Recent
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Sidoti, member of the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the Occupied Palestinian Territory (ending with shot 3):
"We faced not only the problems of conflict which continue in Gaza, but also the problem of very active obstruction on the part of the Israeli authorities. The Israeli approach, I have to say, is not unusual for these United Nations investigative mechanisms. Many states deny access or deny cooperation to the commissions, simply because they don't want what happened to be revealed. And so, they tried to keep the investigation at arm's length, so that's not unusual, but we were able to talk to people, both in person outside Israel and Palestine.";
Gaza Strip - June 8, 2024
3. Various of destroyed buildings, residents searching in ruins;
Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip - June 5, 2024
4. Various of ambulances arriving at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, local people rushing injured victims into hospital;
Gaza Strip - June 6, 2024
5. Various of damaged school building in Nuseirat camp;
UN Headquarters, New York City - Recent
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Sidoti, member of the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the Occupied Palestinian Territory (ending with shot 7):
"Your question is a natural question that I think anyone would ask, but it's one that I am simply unable to answer. It's not that I avoid answering. Each of the situations that I have examined have been unique, and each of them has been heartbreakingly tragic in the impact that it's had on human lives. It is enormously overwhelming to think of the numbers of people, people in their tens of thousands who have been killed just in the last eight months.";
Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip - June 5, 2024
7. Various of ambulances arriving at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, local people rushing injured victims into hospital;
8. Various of people in hospital, injured residents lying on floor;
UN Headquarters, New York City - Recent
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Chris Sidoti, member of the UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the Occupied Palestinian Territory:
"It is certainly possible for the parties to be held accountable. The only issue is political will. There's no lack of law and there are no lack of judicial institutions, that is, courts who can implement that law. if the political will is there to allow them to do their job. Accountability is absolutely essential. If you ask me for one reason why we are seeing this now, the one reason that I would point to is because we have a history of impunity in relation to this dispute.";
FILE: UN Headquarters, New York City - Date Unknown
10. Various of UN headquarters building, UN flag, logo at headquarters.

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