Urgent Memo Submitted to the International Criminal Court: “No Peace Without Justice. Holding Perpetrators of Crimes in Gaza Accountable is a Duty That Cannot Be Waived”
The Palestinian Human Rights Foundation (Witness) has submitted a memorandum to the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and to the judges of the Pre-Trial Chamber, calling for immediate and sustained action to investigate and ensure accountability for crimes committed in the Gaza Strip, and to guarantee that no Israeli officials evade justice.
In the memorandum, (Witness) affirmed that what the Gaza Strip has been subjected to since October 7, 2023, constitutes a systematic genocide characterized by an unprecedented level of widespread violence and deliberate targeting of civilians. The number of victims has exceeded 68,000 martyrs and injured individuals, including thousands of children and women. Gaza has effectively become a “completely devastated area” due to the destruction of residential neighborhoods, hospitals, schools, displacement camps, and water and electricity facilities.
Witness emphasized that the documented Israeli crimes — including willful killing, starvation as a method of warfare, forced displacement, comprehensive blockade, indiscriminate targeting, and systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, represent grave violations of international humanitarian law. These acts amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and potentially genocide, under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Witness further stressed that justice cannot be subject to political arrangements or ceasefire agreements, stating: “Any political settlement cannot replace criminal accountability, as justice is a prerequisite for peace, and accountability is a safeguard against the recurrence of crimes.”
The Palestinian Human Rights Foundation (SHAHED) asserted that the ICC is now more than ever required to demonstrate its independence and courage in confronting the most serious crimes threatening global peace and human conscience. The memorandum concluded with the following demands:
Accelerate the completion of ongoing investigations into crimes committed in the Palestinian territories.
Issue public arrest warrants for Israeli political and military officials involved in these crimes.
Reject any political pressure to freeze or suspend the course of justice.
Cooperate with civil society organizations in collecting evidence and testimonies.
Uphold the principles of accountability and non-impunity as essential conditions for achieving justice and redress for victims.
Beirut – October 17, 2025
Palestinian Human Rights Foundation (Witness)
