United Nations human rights experts called on Monday for independent investigations into “allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity” during the recent aggression on the Gaza Strip.

A joint statement issued by Maurice Tidball Baines, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, and Alice Jill Edwards, Special Rapporteur on Torture, stressed the need for “prompt, transparent and independent investigations.”

“Independent investigators must be given the necessary resources, support and access required to conduct prompt, comprehensive and impartial investigations into crimes allegedly committed by all parties to the conflict,” the statement said.

According to the experts, “the duty to investigate war crimes and crimes against humanity, including any act of summary or extrajudicial killing, torture or other attacks on human dignity, is a fundamental legal obligation.”

The statement urged the international community to ensure that all those responsible for the most serious violations - especially those bearing leadership responsibilities - are brought to justice expeditiously.

He stressed that "there is no statute of limitations" for war crimes and crimes against humanity, which fall under what is called universal jurisdiction.

This means that courts in any country in the world can try those responsible, regardless of their nationality and the country in which these crimes were committed.

According to the experts, “We encourage all countries to play a proactive role in identifying the main suspected perpetrators and to help facilitate prosecutions through the principle of mutual legal assistance.”