Israel accused of obstructing investigators as Iran warns of 'swift' response

A UN-mandated commission of inquiry that probes violations of international human rights law has accused Israel of obstructing its efforts to collect evidence from the victims of the attack by Hamas in southern Israel on October 7.

"So far as the government of Israel is concerned, we have not only seen a lack of cooperation, but active obstruction of our efforts to receive evidence from Israeli witnesses and victims to the events that occurred in southern Israel," said Chris Sidoti, one of three members of a commission of inquiry into abuses committed in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

"We have contact with many, but we would like to have contact with more."

Sidoti appealed to the government of Israel, as well as victims and witnesses of the attack, to aid the commission in conducting its probe.

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In response to Sidoti's comments, the Israeli diplomatic mission in Geneva said it had been carrying out its own investigation into the crimes, and that representatives of the United Nations and other institutions had been to Israel and met with survivors and victims.

The UN commission of inquiry, set up in 2021 by the UN Human Rights Council, is mandated to collect evidence and identify perpetrators of international crimes.

The evidence gathered by such UN bodies has formed the basis for war crimes prosecutions and the International Criminal Court.

'Unlawful restrictions'

Israel is still imposing "unlawful" restrictions on humanitarian relief for Gaza, the UN human rights office said, despite assertions from Israel and others that restrictions have eased.

Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip has turned much of it into a wasteland, with hundreds of thousands of people now displaced and crowded into the southern corner of the enclave.

The amount of aid now entering Gaza is disputed, with Israel and Washington saying aid flows have risen in recent days but UN agencies say it is still far below bare minimum levels required to meet basic needs.

"Israel continues to impose unlawful restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian assistance, and to carry out widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure," said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, at a press briefing in Geneva, reiterating calls for unfettered aid access.

Israel, which denies hindering humanitarian relief to Gaza, has faced increased international pressure to let more supplies into the Gaza Strip since it hit an aid convoy on April 1, killing international relief workers.

Israelis wait on response

Israelis awaited word on how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would respond to Iran's first-ever direct attack as international pressure for restraint grew amid fears of an escalation of conflict in the Middle East.

While the attack caused no deaths and little damage, it has increased concerns that violence sparked by the Gaza war is spreading.

Israeli military chief of staff Herzi Halevi said on Monday that "this launch of so many missiles, cruise missiles and drones into Israeli territory will be met with a response" but gave no details.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani told state TV on Monday night that Tehran's response to any Israeli retaliation would come in "a matter of seconds, as Iran will not wait for another 12 days to respond."

Iran launched the attack in retaliation for an airstrike on its embassy compound in Damascus on April 1 attributed to Israel, and signalled that it did not seek further escalation.

U.S. President Joe Biden told Netanyahu at the weekend that the United States would not participate in an Israeli counter-strike. Since the war in Gaza began in October, clashes have erupted between Israel and Iran-aligned groups based in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iraq.

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