Israel and the International Criminal Court: The United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict and Its Role in the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Adam A. Hussein Mr., University of La Verne College of Law

Abstract

On September 15, 2009 the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) released the Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (UN Report). The UN Report garnered great interest in the international community, as it introduced the question of whether Israel and Palestine could be brought before the International Criminal Court for their acts in the aggression that began in late 2008. This paper discusses the UN Report’s findings, construction, and flaws. The paper then uses the UN Report to assess what role the UNHRC and ICC can play in the Middle East Conflict. After concluding that these two organizations, in their current form, cannot legitimately bring change in the Middle East, the paper discusses what improvements can be made to allow these organizations to become more effective. Finally, the paper discusses what role these improved organizations can play on the road to peace.