THE HAGUE, November 25, 2025 (WAFA) – The State of Palestine officially joined the International Commission on Missing Persons on Tuesday evening, with Ambassador Ammar Hijazi, permanent representative to international organizations in The Hague, presenting the accession document at a ceremony held at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in its role as depositary country.
Hijazi stated that Palestine’s membership in the committee carries particular significance given that more than 10,000 Palestinians are reported missing in the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian data, amid the ongoing genocidal war waged by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territories.
He emphasized that international cooperation through the committee is a key pillar in supporting the rights of Palestinian families to know the fate of their loved ones and achieve truth and justice. Hijazi affirmed Palestine’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with international institutions specialized in addressing missing persons, developing mechanisms for search and documentation, and protecting the rights of victims and their families.
The head of the Treaties Department at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jules van Eijndhoven, welcomed the submission of the accession document, while Andreas Kleiser, Director of Policy and Cooperation at the International Commission on Missing Persons, expressed his approval of Palestine’s membership, noting that it will contribute to deepening collaboration and developing technical capacities in search, documentation, and handling of missing persons cases.
The commission aims to locate missing persons, document their fate, and provide technical and knowledge support to member states to strengthen efforts for justice and transparency regarding forced disappearances and missing persons.
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