Source · Select Committees · Foreign Affairs Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Rejected
Ensure international criminal courts gather information for post-conflict accountability and peacebuilding.
Conclusion
Accountability through international criminal courts will be fundamental to peacebuilding and the future after this conflict has ended. The courts must be involved in information gathering so that, whenever this conflict ends, decisions can be made. (Conclusion, Paragraph 122)
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees on the importance of accountability through international courts, noting its past actions like participating in the ICJ and calling for independent investigations. However, it rejects applying the Ukraine atrocity crimes advisory model to Gaza due to a lack of state partner and access challenges.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
The Government partially agrees with this recommendation. The UK has consistently called on all parties to comply with international law in Palestine and agrees with the committee on the importance of accountability. We have been clear that we respect the independence of the international courts and have supported the courts in their important work. In May this year, the UK participated in the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Israel’s obligations as an Occupying Power and as a member of the UN, putting forward strong support for UNRWA and the ICRC. In relation to the conflict in Gaza, we have called for independent investigations into incidents where there are reports of breaches of international humanitarian law and accountability for those found responsible, including at the UN Security Council. The Government welcomes the Committee’s commendation of the work in Ukraine. With US and EU partners, the UK launched the Atrocity Crimes Advisory group (ACA) in May 2022 as a co-ordinating mechanism to support Ukraine’s domestic investigations and prosecutions of core international crimes. The Government does not agree that this particular model would work in the context of Gaza, given the lack of a state partner or structures to work with on the ground and the challenges of access. Recommendation 25