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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings & Torture |
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September 16th,
2009 - UN Accuses Israel of Committing War Crimes in Gaza |
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UN Accuses
Israel of Committing War Crimes in Gaza By James Bone The Times September 16, 2009 A fact-finding team from the
United Nations has accused Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza. The
investigation set up by the Human Rights Council concluded that Israeli
forces had been systematically reckless in their use of white phosphorus
during the Gaza war earlier this year. The investigators said in
their report: “The mission believes that serious consideration should be
given to banning the use of white phosphorus in built-up areas.” They singled out three
Israeli attacks using white phosphorus - which is deployed as a smokescreen -
saying that they were disproportionate or excessive under international law. They said that Israel failed
to take “all feasible precautions” in using white phosphorus shells in the
attack on the UN Relief and Works Agency compound in Gaza City on January 15
despite the presence of up to 700 civilians. It also criticised the use of
white phosphorus in attacks on Al Quds and Al Wafa hospitals. The report accused Israel of
breaking international law by deliberately attacking civilians, using Palestinians
as “human shields” and torturing detainees. It added that the continuing
Israeli blockade of Gaza could constitute persecution - a crime against
humanity. The Times was the first
newspaper to expose Israel’s use of white phosphorus in civilian areas of
Gaza during Operation Cast Lead, which was aimed at stopping Hamas rockets
being fired at Israel. It began on December 27 last
year and ended on January 18. An Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem, said
last week that 773 of the 1,387 Palestinians killed were civilians. The report said that
Palestinian armed groups had also committed war crimes and possibly crimes
against humanity by indiscriminately firing rockets at civilians in southern
Israel. The mission urged the UN
Security Council to give both sides six months to investigate and prosecute
offenders before turning the matter over the prosecutor of the International
Criminal Court, a recommendation unlikely to be followed by the council. The mission was set up in
April by the UN Human Rights Council, which has a record of criticising
Israel. It was led by Richard Goldstone, a South African judge who headed a
commission on political violence in his homeland. Israel refused to
co-operate with the investigation and yesterday dismissed its findings as
prejudged. External link:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6835910.ece
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