GENEVA: United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Wednesday called on Israel to abolish a newly established special military tribunal designed to try Palestinians accused of involvement in Hamas’s Oct 7 attack.
Israel’s parliament approved the law late Monday, creating a special court empowered to impose the death penalty on suspects linked to the attack or accused of holding prisoners in Gaza.
According to Israeli media reports, around 400 suspects are expected to face trial before the tribunal.
In a statement, Turk stressed that accountability for the Oct 7 attacks was necessary but warned that the newly approved court did not meet international legal standards.
“There must be full accountability for these horrific attacks, but this cannot be achieved through trials that fall short of international standards,” he said.
“This law must be overturned,” the UN rights chief added.
Turk further warned that the legislation risked institutionalising discriminatory justice against Palestinians.
“This law will inevitably institutionalise one-sided justice and discrimination against Palestinians, which cannot be in anyone’s interest and runs counter to international human rights law,” he said.
The tribunal is expected to handle cases involving individuals captured during or after the Hamas-led raid on southern Israel, as well as suspects accused of detaining hostages in Gaza.
