Israel faces calls for Gaza war crimes investigation

[DogPoundPup]

Tuesday 13 January 2009

Israel is facing growing demands from senior United Nations officials and human rights groups for an international war crimes investigation in Gaza over allegations such as the "reckless and indiscriminate" shelling of residential areas and the use of Palestinian families as human shields by soldiers.

With the death toll from the 17-day Israeli assault on Gaza climbing above 900, pressure is increasing for an independent inquiry into specific incidents, such as the shelling of a UN school turned refugee centre where about 40 people died, as well as the question of whether the military tactics used by Israel systematically breached humanitarian law.

The UN's senior human rights body approved a resolution yesterday condemning the Israeli offensive for "massive violations of human rights". A senior UN source said UN humanitarian agencies were compiling evidence of war crimes and passing it on to the "highest levels" to be used as seen fit.

Benjamin Rutland, a spokesman for the Israeli military, said an international investigation of the army's actions was not justified. "We do not feel there is any need for that. We have international lawyers at every level of the command whose job it is to authorise targeting decisions, rules of engagement ... We don't think we have breached international law in any of these instances," he said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/13/gaza-israel-war-crimes

[scarletwoman]

1. If the Israeli government wants to see the face of terrorism, it only needs to look in the mirror.

There is NO justification for what they are doing, none.

sw

[Scurrilous]

2. Kick

:kick: