GENEVA – The recent halt of the military assault in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages and some detained Palestinians offers a rare moment of hope amid widespread suffering. However, the UN Special Rapporteur Bernard Duhaime emphasized that sustainable peace must be anchored in justice, inclusivity, and accountability, and must uphold the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. Peace cannot be imposed but requires genuine dialogue that recognizes the dignity of all parties and ensures the full participation of Palestinians.
The Gaza Peace Summit, which began on 13 October, has raised cautious optimism for lasting peace in the region. Duhaime stressed that a comprehensive plan must be built on a robust transitional justice process, which includes truth-telling about human rights violations and the root causes of the conflict, criminal accountability, reparations, memorialization, and guarantees of non-repetition. Without such a roadmap, any peace plan risks being superficial and failing to address the deep trauma inflicted on generations of victims.
The Special Rapporteur noted that the current ceasefire proposal lacks clarity regarding the mechanisms, timelines, and institutional arrangements needed for meaningful transitional justice. Questions remain about how truth will be established, how victims will access reparations, and how perpetrators will be held accountable. Civil society actors, journalists, and Palestinian and Israeli organizations documenting human rights violations play a critical role in ensuring justice and accountability, and their protection and support are essential. Duhaime called on the international community to consider establishing a secure repository to safeguard this vital documentation.
Duhaime warned that any absence of accountability measures for violations of international law—including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide—could undermine the peace plan. He emphasized that such crimes must not be shielded by amnesties, statutes of limitation, or other legal loopholes, as preventing impunity is a fundamental principle of international law.
The Special Rapporteur also stressed that Gaza’s governance cannot be considered in isolation from the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Any peace agreement must ensure full compliance with International Court of Justice decisions and the immediate end of Israel’s occupation. International presence in the region must remain neutral and be mandated to protect both Palestinians and Israelis from threats by state and non-state actors.
A durable resolution requires a strong commitment to justice, enabling a future rooted in peace, dignity, mutual security, and respect. Duhaime reaffirmed his readiness to provide technical assistance on transitional justice processes to Palestine, Israel, and other stakeholders to support a meaningful and accountable path toward peace.
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