MIDEAST-CRISIS/GAZA-UN Israel, Palestinians to investigate Gaza war crime accusations

Record ID: 148925

  • Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/GAZA-UN Israel, Palestinians to investigate Gaza war crime accusations
  • Date: 29th June 2015
  • Summary: GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (JUNE 29, 2015) (REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DEBATING GAZA 2014 WAR CRIMES REPORT HEAD OF THE U.N COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ON GAZA, MARY MCGOWAN DAVIS, SPEAKING SIGN READING "ISRAEL"
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Switzerland
  • Country: Switzerland
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9BIN1APPENSD9YXCV523094V9
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Israel and the Palestinians promised on Monday (June 29) to investigate alleged war crimes committed by their forces during the 2014 Gaza war, amid growing calls for an end to impunity on both sides.
    During a three-hour debate at the U.N. Human Rights Council, boycotted by Israel, the president of the Geneva forum rebuked envoys of Saudi Arabia and Venezuela for referring to Israel as a "racist regime" and its "genocidal aggression".
    The council examined a report issued by U.N. investigators last week saying Israel and Palestinian militant groups committed grave abuses of international humanitarian law during the Gaza conflict that may amount to war crimes.
    "The information we gathered points to serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law by Israel and by Palestinian armed groups, in some cases these may amount to war crimes. We are concerned that impunity prevails across the board for violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law," said Mary McGowan Davis, chair of the U.N. commission on the inquiry.
    The Palestinian Authority last week submitted its first evidence of alleged Israeli war crimes to the International Criminal Court, trying to speed up an ICC inquiry into abuses.
    Palestinian Ambassador Ibrahim Khraishi told the council: "It is clear in the report the Israeli leadership bears primary responsibility for these crimes, having deliberately planned for this barbaric aggression. The report also indicates the failure of Israel in a continuous manner to investigate these massive violations perpetrated by the occupying power which are tantamount to crimes again humanity."
    The Palestinian Authority was also discussing setting up a committee to probe allegations of violations by Gaza militants, in line with the U.N. recommendations, he said.
    Eviatar Manor, Israel's ambassador, told reporters the report will be another source of information for the country's internal investigation.
    "Substantial number of cases have been reviewed, investigated and closed. There are about 100 cases which are still open. Alleged war crimes are very, very serious crimes. I think it is only fair that the investigations are serious, comprehensive before indictments are being prepared so that the indictments will also carry with them weight and assure prosecution," he said.
    Outside the United Nations building, hundreds of pro-Israeli supporters staged a protest against the report.
    "Report is biased, report is comparing the democratic state of Israel, the member of the United Nations, with the Hamas, which is absolutely unacceptable. The report is not dealing with many issues of the human rights violations in the Middle East, the report is not dealing with what actually happened on the ground, the report is not dealing with the attacks of thousands of rockets from Gaza strip towards Israel, the report is definitely not balanced and absolutely biased," said Robert Singer, Secretary-General of the World Jewish Congress.
    In a 50-day war, more than 2,100 Palestinians were killed, mostly civilians.
    Israel put the number of its dead at 67 soldiers and six civilians. Israeli air strikes and shelling hammered the densely populated Gaza Strip, dominated by the Islamist Hamas movement, causing widespread destruction of homes and schools.
    Hamas and other militant groups launched thousands of rockets and mortar bombs out of the enclave into Israel.
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