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Israel Committed War Crimes in Gaza: UN Report

Fact-finding mission recommends world court prosecutor take action

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 29, 2009 6:26 AM CDT

(Newser) – Israel committed "actions amounting to war crimes, possibly crimes against humanity" during the three-week Gaza war, according to a UN special report that will be released today. The fact-finding mission, headed by the Jewish South African judge Richard Goldstone, also determined that Palestinian militants committed war crimes, but reserved most of its criticism for Israel. Goldstone's report recommends that the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court open an investigation.

The report claims that the Israeli army "failed to take feasible precautions required by international law to avoid or minimize loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, and damage to civilian objects." It also confirms reports that Israel struck densely populated areas with white phosphorus, a chemical agent that causes severe burns, and that Israeli forces fired at hospitals and food supplies. The Israeli government has already dismissed the conclusions—and refused to cooperate with Goldstone's team "because its mandate was clearly one-sided."

A Palestinian girl passes by a house destroyed during Israel's three-week offensive in Gaza earlier this year, in Jabaliya, northern Gaza Strip, Monday, June 1, 2009. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Richard Goldstone, the South African judge heading of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, speaks during a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, July 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Keystone/Martial Trezzini)

UN investigator Richard Goldstone visits a house destroyed in an artillery strike during Israel's offensive in January in Gaza City. (AP Photo/Ashraf Amra, Files)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 35 comments

DontLikeYou___

Dec 15, 2009 4:30 AM CST

If a person were visiting earth, they might get an impression of Israel as being a horrid place, with wretched, blood thirsty people. Nothing could be further from the truth. They are. on the whole, a nation of decent, peace loving people. The people around them want to kill their people. So Israel must be tough and relentless. I am happy for them because of their successes.

RockyPneumonia

Sep 29, 2009 12:48 PM CDT

shonangreg, for your logic to be valid, the terorist attacks would have to have started after the occupation began in 1967, whereas in fact, the Israelis occupied the West Bank and Gaza BECAUSE those areas were used, for 19 years, as bases for murderous terrorist attacks. Y'know, while we're talking about analogies being closer to truth....

RockyPneumonia

Sep 29, 2009 12:41 PM CDT

Good point, Reader. I'd add that we lost 3,000 people on 9/11; had our losses to terrorism been commensurate to Israel's, we would have lost 30,000.

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Israel Committed War Crimes in Gaza: UN Report

Fact-finding mission recommends world court prosecutor take action

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Israel • United Nations • Gaza • war crimes • crimes against humanity • UN Human Rights Council • International Criminal Court • Gaza war • Arab-Israeli conflict • Richard Goldstone

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Israel Committed War Crimes in Gaza: UN Report

Fact-finding mission recommends world court prosecutor take action

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Israel • United Nations • Gaza • war crimes • crimes against humanity • UN Human Rights Council • International Criminal Court • Gaza war • Arab-Israeli conflict • Richard Goldstone

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

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Gaza Militants OK Israel Cease-Fire

Egypt brokers deal to stop escalating violence

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But rebel offenses not as systematic, widespread as those of Gadhafi's forces

Egypt Bolsters Relations With Iran, Hamas

Government will end Gaza blockade

Israel, Hamas Reportedly Agree to Ceasefire

The deal comes after weeks of increasing violence

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Newser By Users

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