Poland believes that the Commission’s work can contribute to explaining the circumstances of the incident in an expeditious and fair manner and facilitate restoration of respect for the provisions of international humanitarian law. Under the Memorandum of Understanding, the Commission will establish the circumstances of the attack on a humanitarian aid convoy in the Gaza Strip on 1 April 2024. The tragic attack killed seven people, including a Polish citizen.

Conceived as non-political and impartial, the Commission is the only permanent body of globally recognised standing in international humanitarian law. Poland appreciates its role in providing good offices to initiate restoration of respect for the provisions of the Geneva Conventions and the Additional Protocol I.

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Recognised by international law, the procedure of good offices is an extrajudicial, diplomatic means to peacefully settle international disputes with a potential to feed into a comprehensive examination of the facts of the case in regard to incidents taking place in the course of armed conflicts.

 

Photo: Sebastian Indra/MFA