Spain Launches Investigation into Gaza Human Rights Violations to Aid the ICC

In a significant development, Spain's Public Prosecutor's Office announced on Thursday that it will open an investigation into "human rights violations in Gaza." The move is intended to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has been seeking arrest warrants for Israeli officials on charges of war crimes.

According to Spanish media, the Spanish Attorney General, Álvaro García Ortiz, authorized the investigation into "crimes committed by Israel in Gaza." In an official statement, the Public Prosecutor's Office said it had issued a decree "to form a working group to investigate violations of international human rights law in Gaza." The statement added that the purpose of the investigation is to "collect evidence and make it available to the competent authorities, thereby honoring Spain's commitments regarding international cooperation and human rights."

The crimes to be investigated include "genocide, and crimes against humanity against people and protected property in a state of armed conflict." Reports indicate that Attorney General Ortiz has ordered the formation of a joint investigative team for this purpose, comprising prosecutor Dolores Delgado and the head of the Public Prosecutor's Office at the National Court, Jesús Alonso.

The findings of the Spanish investigation will be submitted to international bodies, primarily the ICC, which already has open cases against Israel. This action by Spain signals a decisive political and legal stance in support of international accountability efforts.