Chair Navi Pillay on Wednesday said she would pass the evidence onto the International Criminal Court and called for it to consider prosecutions amid earlier criticism from Israel and families of Israeli hostages that the U.N. had kept quiet.

“I’m now sitting as chair of a commission with the power to investigate this. So there’s no way we will not do so,” said Pillay, chair of the three-member commission of inquiry into abuses committed in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. Already, she said some people are keen to provide testimonies and that these would be handed over to prosecutors.

However, a major challenge for Pillay is that Israel has not cooperated with the commission, which it says has an anti-Israel bias. The commission could struggle to gather sufficient evidence to support future charges if access is not granted.

Israeli authorities have already opened their own investigation into sexual violence during the most deadly attack on Israel in its history, including rape, after evidence emerged pointing to sexual crimes, such as victims found disrobed and mutilated.

Hamas has denied the abuses and was not immediately available for comment. An Israeli government spokesperson was not immediately available for comment.

Evidence about sexual violence includes testimonies given to Reuters since Oct. 7 by first responders at the sites of the attacks as well as military reservists who tended to the bodies in the identification process. Reuters has seen photos corroborating some of those accounts.

The U.N. Commission of Inquiry, set up in 2021 by the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva and composed of three independent experts, has an unusually broad mandate to collect evidence and identify perpetrators of international crimes. It is about to release a public “call for submissions” for evidence on Hamas’ sexual violence, said Pillay, who is a former U.N. human rights chief and International Criminal Court judge.

Sometimes, the evidence gathered by such U.N. bodies has formed the basis for war crimes prosecutions and could be drawn on by the International Criminal Court which has jurisdiction over both Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7 and any crimes committed on Palestinian territory as part of Israel’s response including bombings in the Gaza Strip, the ICC’s top prosecutor said.

Pillay told Reuters she had met with prosecutors of the ICC since the Oct. 7 attacks to collaborate on sharing evidence.

“I was very impressed with the deputy prosecutor’s (Nazhat Shameem Khan) emphasis on how seriously she wishes to investigate the incidents of sexual violence, the complaints coming from Israel,” she said.

Pillay’s 18-person commission is requesting U.S. and Egyptian help in convincing Israel to grant access to investigate, but Washington has also criticised the commission, as have European allies. At issue is that its investigations, unusually for the U.N., have no end date and a perception among some Western states that it subjects Israel to disproportionate scrutiny.

Pillay described Israel’s bombing of Gaza in response to the Oct. 7 attacks as “absolutely shocking” and condemned the high death toll, which Gaza’s health ministry number at over 15,000.

Another priority is investigating the killing of reporters during the seven-week-old conflict, Pillay said, including Reuters’ visuals journalist Issam Abdallah who was killed on Oct. 13. Israel has said it does not deliberately target journalists and that it is investigating the incident.

Before a four-day truce between Israel and Hamas got underway on Friday, U.N. agencies had voiced fears of disease and dehydration in the north, cut off from outside aid for weeks in a siege within a siege. The UN previously said it could not get safe passage and medical groups who remained active like the International Red Cross came under fire there.

“People are so desperate and you can see in adults’ eyes they haven’t eaten, you can see the children are getting thinner,” the U.N. children’s agency’s James Elder told Reuters by video link from southern Gaza after returning from Gaza City.

“There’s just this immense relief. Literally people as they get water start drinking the water immediately,” he said. “They’re thirsty. They’ve been thirsty for days.”

UNICEF’s Elder took part in a five-truck convoy on Sunday alongside other U.N. agencies delivering high-energy biscuits, vitamin tablets for children as well as medical kits. A dispute over aid flows to the north of the Israeli-besieged enclave temporarily held up a deal to free captives on Saturday.

The deliveries were made to hospitals where rations were controlled, Elder said. He described seeing children, often with multiple injuries including burns and shrapnel wounds, lying in hospital beds in a state of shock. “They look like they’d been broken and then badly put back together,” he said.

“It seems callous and cold to think that we may be getting to the end of those deliveries and hostilities will continue, (that) the war, this war on children will continue.”

Even as the aid deliveries flowed north, Elder said he saw hundreds of Gazans heading in the other direction, fearing the renewal of Israeli bombardments if the four-day truce is not prolonged. “People are so terrified that this pause won’t be continued … I saw grandmothers carrying children, children pushing grandmothers in wheelchairs through the dust,” he said.

Positive strides were reported on several key issues that have been major points of contention. These include establishing a timeline for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Yemen, devising a mechanism for paying public servants’ salaries, and discussing the full reopening of Houthi-controlled ports and Sanaa airport, as well as reconstruction efforts.

The meetings between the Houthi rebels and Saudi officials were hailed by Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, as a “moment of opportunity”. He described them as the highest-level and most publicized negotiations with the Houthis in Saudi Arabia over the past nine years. The Saudi government also welcomed the positive outcomes of the discussions.

However, United Nations officials have cautioned that the situation on the ground in Yemen remains “fragile and challenging,” with active front lines. The conflict has resulted in the deaths and injuries of hundreds of thousands of people and has left 80 percent of Yemen’s population reliant on humanitarian aid.

Timothy Lenderking, the US special envoy for Yemen, emphasized the tireless efforts being made by the United States to bring an end to the conflict. Lenderking, whose primary mission is to resolve the crisis in Yemen, expressed his commitment to achieving a just and comprehensive resolution to the war. He highlighted the need for a transition from the current truce to a durable ceasefire and Yemeni-Yemeni political talks.

Lenderking noted the positive developments that have taken place over the past 18 months, including the de-escalation of violence and the opening of Sanaa airport for commercial flights. He acknowledged that progress had been made but stressed the importance of further positive results and the need to address the prevailing distrust between the parties involved.

The US envoy also highlighted the significance of the international community’s support for the peace process, with meetings between US Secretary of State Blinken and other key stakeholders demonstrating their determination to move the peace process forward. He cited the strong unity among the permanent members of the Security Council (P5) on the need for a political solution in Yemen.

Lenderking also addressed the potential impact of the Saudi-Iran rapprochement on the Yemeni conflict. While acknowledging the groundwork that had been laid before the announcement of the Saudi-Iran deal, he expressed hope that Iran’s posture towards Yemen would change. He emphasized the importance of Iran’s support for a political solution and its cessation of smuggling weapons and aid to the Houthis.

Despite the progress made in diplomatic efforts, Yemen continues to face a dire humanitarian crisis. The UN has appealed for funding to address the needs of the 21.6 million Yemenis requiring humanitarian assistance. Currently, only 30 percent of the targeted funding has been met.

Moving forward, the focus will be on capitalizing on the positive momentum achieved and driving the peace process under the leadership of the United Nations. The ultimate objective is to reach a peace agreement through Yemeni-Yemeni negotiations, with the support of the international community.

The recent talks between the Houthi rebels and Saudi officials mark a significant step forward in the search for a resolution to the Yemeni conflict. While challenges remain, the international community’s commitment and the willingness of the parties involved to engage in dialogue provide hope for a brighter future for Yemen and its war-weary population.

The meeting aimed to address various pressing issues and foster cooperation among OIC member states. The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement highlighting the key discussions and statements made by Prince Faisal.

Firstly, Prince Faisal expressed Saudi Arabia’s condolences, sympathy, and solidarity with Morocco and Libya following recent natural disasters. The Kingdom extended its support to Morocco after an earthquake struck the North African country and offered its condolences to Libya, which had experienced devastating flooding in Derna.

The minister commended the response of the OIC and its member states to Saudi Arabia’s call for an extraordinary session of the Council of Foreign Ministers. The session was held to address the desecration and burning of copies of the Quran in Sweden and Denmark. Prince Faisal appreciated the swift action taken by the OIC and its member states in addressing this issue.

Prince Faisal also emphasized the importance of resolving the Palestinian issue through a comprehensive solution, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. He reiterated Saudi Arabia’s support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Moreover, the Saudi foreign minister chaired the Arab side of a high-level foreign ministerial informal interactive dialogue session between the Arab Summit Troika and the UN Security Council. The Arab Summit Troika consists of Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, representing the outgoing, current, and incoming chairs of the Arab League. The meeting aimed to foster cooperation and joint efforts between the Arab League and the UN Security Council to promote peace and security in the Arab world.

During the session, Prince Faisal highlighted the need for a safe and stable regional and international environment to address common challenges effectively. He emphasized the importance of cooperation and collective action among countries.

Prince Faisal also raised concerns about the growing role of armed groups operating outside the framework of the state. He warned that these groups pose a threat to international peace and security and called on the UN Security Council to take strict measures against them. The ease with which these groups acquire advanced technology and weapons undermines state institutions, he added.

The Saudi foreign minister welcomed the results of discussions on a road map to support the peace process in Yemen. The talks involved the Saudi communication and coordination team, the Sanaa delegation, and the participation of Oman. He expressed hopes for dialogue between Yemeni parties to pave the way for security, stability, and a comprehensive renaissance in the war-torn country.

Prince Faisal concluded by highlighting Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strengthening cooperation and developing peaceful solutions to regional crises. The Kingdom aims to establish a common perspective between the Arab League and the UN Security Council to promote peace and security in the Arab world.

The participation of Prince Faisal bin Farhan in the coordination meeting of the OIC foreign ministers and the subsequent discussions on various regional and international issues underscored Saudi Arabia’s active role in promoting cooperation, stability, and peace within the Islamic world and beyond.

“By exiting the JCPOA, the United States violated the agreement and the principle of good faith. America should demonstrate its goodwill and determination,” Raisi said in a speech at the U.N. General Assembly, referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action between Tehran and six world powers.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump reneged on that deal in 2018, arguing it was too generous to Tehran, and restored harsh U.S. sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to gradually violate the agreement’s nuclear limits.

After taking office in January 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden tried to negotiate a revival of the nuclear pact under which Iran had restricted its nuclear program in return for relief from U.S., European Union and U.N. sanctions.

But months of nuclear talks have stalled since last September, with both sides accusing each other of demanding excessive concessions.

“America must build trust to demonstrate its good intentions and genuine willingness to fulfil its commitments and conclude the path,” Raisi said.

U.S. and European officials have been searching for ways to curb Tehran’s nuclear activities since the breakdown of indirect American-Iranian talks a year ago.

To cool tensions, Tehran and Washington reached a Qatar-mediated deal last month, which resulted in swapping five detainees each on Monday and involved releasing $6 billion of Tehran’s funds in South Korea.

Further straining already difficult ties, the United States and its Western allies have imposed sanctions on Iran over its handling of months of protests sparked by the death in custody of young Iranian Kurdish women Mahsa Amini.

Immediately after Iran’s Raisi began to deliver his speech, Israel’s envoy to the U.N., Gilad Erdan, marched out of the General Assembly hall while waving Amini’s picture.

“I left the speech to make it clear that the State of Israel stands by the Iranian people,” said Erdan, according to a statement sent to Reuters by Israel’s mission to the United Nations.

Iran and Israel, which Tehran refuses to recognise, have been locked in a shadow war for decades, with mutual allegations of sabotage and assassination plots

The leaders, who held talks during the annual high-level United Nations General Assembly, agreed to visit each others’ countries soon, a statement from Netanyahu’s office said.

Israel’s top-rated Channel 12 TV said Erdogan may seek to mark the 100th anniversary of the Turkish republic next month with a pilgrimage to a major Jerusalem mosque. There was no formal confirmation of the report.

Relations between the former allies crashed after Israel’s forces killed 10 Turks in a 2010 raid on a pro-Palestinian activist ship that tried to breach its blockade on the Gaza Strip, which is ruled by Hamas Islamists proscribed in the West.

Ankara expelled Israel’s ambassador, a move reversed in 2016 but repeated two years later over the killing of dozens of Palestinians who took part in violent protests at the Gaza border. Israel, which had complained at Ankara’s hosting of Hamas leaders, reciprocally expelled Turkey’s envoy in 2018.

A visit to Turkey by Israeli President Isaac Herzog in March 2022, followed by visits by both foreign ministers, helped the thaw.

Erdogan and Netanyahu discussed political, economic and regional topics as well as the Israeli-Palestinian issue, the Turkish Presidency said in a post on social media platform X.

Erdogan told Netanyahu that the two countries can cooperate on energy, technology, innovation, artificial intelligence as well as cyber security, the presidency said.

Energy has emerged as a main area for potential cooperation.

“In the meeting, opportunities for energy cooperation primarily in areas like natural gas exploration, production and trade were discussed,” said Turkey’s Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar, who participated.

Turkey began a charm offensive in 2020 to repair ties with estranged rivals, making overtures to Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia as well as Israel.

The discussions between Prince Faisal and Pedersen focused on the efforts made by Saudi Arabia and the United Nations to find a political resolution to the ongoing Syrian crisis. They also reviewed the outcomes of the Arab Summit that was recently held in Jeddah.

Prince Faisal reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to exerting all possible efforts to achieve a political solution to the Syrian crisis. The Kingdom emphasized the importance of preserving Syria’s unity, security, stability, and its affiliation with the Arab League. The ultimate goal is to bring progress and prosperity to the Syrian people, who have endured years of conflict.

In a separate meeting, the Saudi Foreign Minister also met with his Uzbek counterpart, Bakhtiyor Saidov. The two officials discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations and strengthen cooperation on various fronts. They explored opportunities for consolidating both bilateral and multilateral efforts, while also addressing the latest developments in the region.

Saudi Arabia continues to play an active role in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. The Kingdom’s engagement with international partners, such as the United Nations and regional counterparts like Uzbekistan, underscores its commitment to finding diplomatic solutions to regional challenges.

As the Syrian crisis persists, Saudi Arabia remains dedicated to supporting initiatives aimed at achieving a lasting political settlement. The discussions between Prince Faisal and the UN Special Envoy for Syria reflect the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to contribute to a peaceful resolution that brings an end to the suffering of the Syrian people and paves the way for a brighter future.

The UN General Assembly, scheduled from September 18 to 26, 2023, has convened against a backdrop of pressing global concerns. These include the urgent need to combat climate change, address rising poverty and food insecurity, tackle conflicts, manage inflation, respond to escalating humanitarian needs, and tackle deepening inequality.

During the General Assembly, Prince Faisal will engage in several official meetings aimed at discussing approaches to tackle these critical issues. He will also participate in ministerial meetings involving the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the League of Arab States, as reported by SPA.

In addition to these engagements, the Saudi Foreign Minister will hold bilateral meetings with representatives from various countries. These meetings provide an opportunity to strengthen diplomatic ties, exchange views on regional and international matters, and explore avenues for collaboration.

Furthermore, Prince Faisal will meet with officials from international organizations participating in the UN General Assembly’s 78th session. Such interactions allow for discussions on shared priorities, cooperation on global challenges, and the exchange of ideas and best practices.

Saudi Arabia’s active participation in the UN General Assembly reflects its commitment to addressing global issues and contributing to international cooperation. The Kingdom’s involvement in key discussions and bilateral meetings underscores its dedication to finding effective solutions and promoting stability and prosperity on regional and global scales.

As the 78th session of the UN General Assembly unfolds, Prince Faisal’s presence and engagements serve as a platform for Saudi Arabia to share its perspectives, contribute to shaping global agendas, and foster stronger international partnerships to address the pressing challenges facing the world today.

In a statement, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi expressed his firm opposition to Iran’s unilateral measure, emphasizing its detrimental impact on the agency’s verification activities in the country. He highlighted that the decision not only hinders the normal planning and conduct of inspections but also contradicts the spirit of cooperation that should exist between Iran and the IAEA.

The exclusion of a substantial portion of the agency’s most skilled inspectors raises concerns about the transparency and accountability of Iran’s nuclear program. The IAEA plays a crucial role in ensuring that Iran complies with its international obligations and commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal.

The Iranian government’s action comes at a time when the international community is closely monitoring the country’s nuclear activities, particularly in light of recent tensions and discussions surrounding the revival of the JCPOA. The agreement aims to limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities in exchange for sanctions relief.

The IAEA’s ability to carry out independent inspections is vital for maintaining the integrity of the JCPOA and ensuring the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program. The agency’s inspectors possess extensive expertise and experience, which are crucial for accurately assessing Iran’s compliance with its nuclear obligations.

The decision to restrict access to these inspectors raises doubts about Iran’s commitment to full transparency and cooperation with the international community. It also poses challenges to ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving key issues related to Iran’s nuclear program.

The IAEA has called upon Iran to reconsider its decision and allow the agency’s inspectors to resume their crucial work without any undue restrictions. The agency urges Iran to uphold its obligations under the JCPOA and to cooperate fully with the IAEA in order to address any concerns and ensure the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities.

The international community, including countries involved in the JCPOA negotiations and those with a vested interest in regional stability, should closely monitor the situation and exert diplomatic pressure on Iran to reverse its decision. Robust and effective oversight of Iran’s nuclear program is essential to promote regional security and prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

As the situation unfolds, the IAEA and its member states will continue to closely engage with Iran to address the current impasse and find a mutually agreeable solution that upholds the principles of transparency, cooperation, and non-proliferation.

In conclusion, the IAEA’s condemnation of Iran’s decision to bar a significant number of its experienced inspectors underscores the critical importance of independent oversight in ensuring the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program. The international community must remain vigilant and work collectively to resolve this issue and uphold the integrity of the JCPOA.

The International Assistance Mission said the 18 people were detained on two separate occasions this month from its office in central Ghor province and taken to the capital, Kabul.

Local media reported that a U.S. national is among those detained and that staff members were detained for preaching about Christianity. The nonprofit said it still has no information about the nature of the allegations.

“IAM has written to the Ministry of Economy, where we are legally registered as an international NGO, about these extremely concerning developments,” the nonprofit said. “We are also working with the U.N. and ACBAR, the coordinating body for NGOs in Afghanistan, to deepen our understanding of the situation and to work for the quick release of our 18 colleagues.”

The mission said it values and respects Afghanistan’s customs and cultures, standing by the principle that aid will not be used to further a “particular political or religious” point of view. It said all its staff agree to abide by the country’s laws.

Afghan officials were not immediately available for comment on the detentions.

The nonprofit said two Afghan nationals and one international team member were taken from its Ghor office on September 3. A further 15 Afghan national staff members were taken from the same office on September 13.

NGOs have come under greater scrutiny since the Taliban seized control of the country two years ago. They have introduced harsh measures, including banning Afghan women from education beyond sixth grade and barring them from public life and work, including jobs at NGOs.

A U.S. watchdog reported earlier this year that the Taliban are harassing NGOs operating in the country.