Arab League chief: Gaza truce does not mean not holding Israel accountable for recent crimes

CAIRO – 21 May 2021: Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Friday said the recent de-escalation declaration in Gaza does not mean not holding Israel accountable for the crimes committed recently.

Aboul Gheit said half of the victims of these crimes were women and children.

He noted that Israeli should be also held accountable for the horrible damage they did to the infrastructure.

Those who committed these crimes should be held accountable in accordance with the rules of the International Criminal Court, which earlier said its powers extend to the occupied Palestinian lands.

"The last round of confrontations in the occupied Palestinian lands proved that the Palestinian people would not accept the continuation of occupation and that Israel's practices against the Palestinians amounted to crimes against humanity," he made it clear.

Aboul Gheit welcomed the Egypt-brokered ceasefire between the Palestinians and the Israelis in the Strip.

He lauded the Egyptian initiative that formed the firm basis for the two sides' agreement to end hostilities and enter into a truce.

Egypt's efforts and its solidarity with the Gazans have greatly contributed to mitigate losses and put an end to Israeli attacks on the Strip, Aboul Gheit said.

The truce is the first step towards de-escalation in the Gaza Strip, Aboul Gheit said, adding however, the international community should realize the danger of the continuation of these conditions in the occupied Palestinian lands.

There is no alternative to launch negotiations based on international law and references agreed upon that will end the occupation and lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, Aboul Gheit added.

MENA contributed to the reporting.