Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt – October 16, 2025
In a stark admonition that reverberated across global diplomatic circles, a top United Nations human rights expert declared on Wednesday that true peace in Gaza can only emerge through unwavering justice, accountability, and respect for human dignity. Bernard Duhaime, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Guarantees of Non-Recurrence, issued the warning as world leaders gathered in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh for a pivotal Gaza peace summit. He cautioned that the fragile ceasefire halting military assaults and facilitating hostage releases, while a "glimmer of hope," lacks a robust framework for transitional justice—risking a superficial truce that perpetuates cycles of violence.
"It must rather be based on a clear commitment to justice and be built on the recognition of the dignity of all involved, through inclusive dialogue with the full participation of Palestinians," Duhaime stated during a press briefing on the summit's sidelines. His words underscore a growing chorus of concern that without addressing root causes like Israel's decades-long occupation, any agreement could unravel, plunging the region into renewed chaos.
The Sharm el-Sheikh Summit: A Beacon or a Mirage?
Monday's Gaza peace summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh brought together an unprecedented array of stakeholders: representatives from the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, Israel, the United States, European Union, Arab League, and even mediators from Qatar and Egypt. Billed as a "new dawn" by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the two-day event focused on expanding the current ceasefire—brokered in late September after 18 months of relentless conflict—into a comprehensive roadmap for reconstruction and political resolution.
The ceasefire, which paused Israeli airstrikes and ground operations while securing the release of 150 hostages held by Hamas, has already saved countless lives. Over 1.2 million displaced Gazans have begun returning to their homes amid rubble-strewn streets, and humanitarian aid convoys have surged into the enclave, delivering food, medicine, and water to a population on the brink of famine. Yet, Duhaime poured cold water on the optimism, labeling the summit's outcomes "promising but perilously incomplete."
"Without a clear transitional justice roadmap, the plan risks becoming a superficial arrangement that fails to address the deep wounds inflicted on generations of victims and raises further risks for the region," he warned. Drawing from his expertise in post-conflict reconciliation—from Colombia's FARC peace accords to South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission—Duhaime outlined four pillars essential for enduring peace: truth-telling, accountability, reparations, and guarantees of non-repetition.
Pillar 1: Truth-Telling – Uncovering the Unvarnished Past
At the heart of Duhaime's blueprint is truth-telling, a process he described as "the oxygen of healing." In Gaza, where over 42,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023—according to Gaza's Health Ministry—and entire neighborhoods reduced to dust, independent investigations must document atrocities on all sides. This includes Hamas's October 7 attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 250 hostages, as well as Israel's disproportionate response, which the UN has flagged for potential war crimes like indiscriminate bombing and blockade-induced starvation.
Duhaime cited the need for a Gaza Truth Commission, modeled after Sierra Leone's post-civil war body, involving survivors, historians, and international experts. "Palestinians must lead this effort," he insisted, criticizing past UN inquiries as "top-down and biased." Early summit discussions hinted at such a mechanism, with Palestinian negotiators pushing for access to Israeli archives on settlement expansions since 1967. However, Israeli delegates balked, citing "security sensitivities," highlighting the chasm that justice must bridge.
Pillar 2: Accountability – No Impunity for the Powerful
Accountability, Duhaime emphasized, means prosecuting those responsible, from Hamas commanders launching rockets from civilian areas to Israeli officials authorizing collective punishment. "Occupation and oppression must end now," he thundered, referencing International Court of Justice rulings deeming Israel's 57-year control of Gaza illegal. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has already issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar—warrants both sides have ignored.
At Sharm el-Sheikh, a tentative agreement emerged for hybrid tribunals: local courts for low-level crimes, international ones for high command. Egypt proposed funding from Gulf states, potentially $5 billion, to expedite trials. Yet, challenges abound. The U.S., a key Israeli ally, opposes ICC involvement, while Hamas demands reciprocal probes into settler violence in the West Bank, where 700 Palestinians died in 2024 alone. Duhaime warned that selective justice "breeds resentment," pointing to Rwanda's gacaca courts as a success story where community-led trials healed divisions.
Pillar 3: Reparations – Healing Economic and Emotional Scars
Reparations, the third pillar, address material and symbolic losses. Gaza's economy, once reliant on fishing and agriculture, now faces a $50 billion reconstruction bill, per World Bank estimates. Duhaime called for a "Global Reparations Fund," seeded by $10 billion from Israel—offset by frozen Palestinian assets—and matched by international donors. This would rebuild 200,000 destroyed homes, restore the decimated healthcare system (where 80% of hospitals are non-functional), and compensate 2 million victims.
Symbolic reparations are equally vital: official apologies from both Israeli and Palestinian leaders, public memorials, and education reforms to teach shared history. Summit pledges included Saudi Arabia's $2 billion commitment and EU grants for psychosocial support, aiding 500,000 children with PTSD. Duhaime shared a poignant story from his briefing: a Gazan mother whose five children died in an airstrike. "Money rebuilds walls," she said, "but apologies rebuild souls."
Pillar 4: Guarantees of Non-Repetition – Dismantling the Roots of Conflict
The final pillar—guarantees of non-repetition—targets the occupation itself. Duhaime demanded an immediate end to settlements (now housing 700,000 Israelis in the West Bank), lifting of the Gaza blockade, and a two-state solution with 1967 borders. "A durable resolution demands a bold commitment to justice," he said, echoing UN Resolution 242.
Summit breakthroughs included Israel's nod to a demilitarized Palestinian state and Hamas's acceptance of Arab peacekeeping forces along borders. Qatar and Turkey offered to monitor compliance, with UN peacekeepers in buffer zones. Yet, hardliners on both sides resist: Netanyahu's coalition includes ultranationalists vowing "no Palestinian state," while Hamas factions cling to armed resistance.
Broader Implications: A Region on the Brink
Duhaime's intervention comes amid regional volatility. Hezbollah's ceasefire with Israel holds tenuously, but Yemen's Houthis continue Red Sea attacks, disrupting 12% of global trade. Lebanon, hosting 1.5 million Palestinian refugees, fears spillover, while Jordan and Egypt brace for migration waves. Globally, the crisis has fueled antisemitism and Islamophobia spikes, with U.S. campus protests turning violent.
Experts like Duhaime argue that Gaza's justice framework could model solutions elsewhere—from Ukraine's war crimes tribunals to Sudan's Darfur reckoning. "Peace is a path to engage on and cannot be imposed," he reiterated, quoting Martin Luther King Jr.: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
Voices from the Ground and Global Reactions
In Gaza City, resident Aisha al-Masri, 34, who lost her leg in a 2024 strike, told reporters: "Ceasefire stops bombs, but justice stops the hate." Israeli hostage survivor Miriam Cohen, 28, echoed: "We need truth so my children's children don't relive October 7."
Reactions poured in. UN Secretary-General António Guterres praised Duhaime's "moral clarity," pledging OHCHR support. U.S. envoy Jack Sullivan called it "constructive," but stopped short of endorsing occupation's end. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hailed it as "vindication," while Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri deemed it "a start, not salvation." Israel's UN ambassador dismissed it as "naive," insisting security trumps justice.
Human rights groups amplified the call: Amnesty International urged "immediate ICC referrals," and Human Rights Watch demanded settlement freezes.
Looking Ahead: A Roadmap to Redemption?
As Sharm el-Sheikh disperses, Duhaime urged follow-through: a November Cairo conference for justice mechanisms, December reparations summit in Doha. "The glimmer of hope must become a blaze," he concluded.
For Gaza's 2.3 million souls—and millions more in the region—Duhaime's words are a lifeline. Will leaders heed them, forging peace through justice? Or will history repeat, with superficial ceasefires crumbling into dust? The path is clear; the choice is theirs.
