Own all US news!

The UN Secretary-General has "missed an opportunity" by failing to make an assessment of the credibility of Israeli and Palestinian investigations into violations during the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel just over a year ago, Amnesty International said on Friday.

"This is deeply disappointing and a missed opportunity to help secure accountability for the conflict’s hundreds of victims," said Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Ban Ki-moon indicated on Thursday that “no determination can be made” on whether either the Israelis or Palestinians are complying with a UN General Assembly resolution of November 2009 that urged both sides to carry out investigations “that are independent, credible and in conformity with international standards”.

It requested the Secretary-General to report within three months on their implementation, “with a view to considering further action”. The resolution was based on the Goldstone Report, which accused both sides of war crimes.

The Secretary-General explained his lack of action by the fact that “processes initiated” by the Israeli and Palestinian authorities were “ongoing”.

However, Amnesty International believes that the information he had received was sufficient to show that steps being taken by both sides were clearly inadequate and that this message should have been conveyed to them in the report.

Amnesty International urges the UN Secretary-General to remedy the situation by immediately preparing an independent assessment of the steps being taken by Israel and the Palestinian side to address accountability and requesting input from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other independent experts in international humanitarian and human rights law. Amnesty International wrote to Ban Ki-moon on 20 November 2009 with a similar recommendation.

Such an assessment should be made available to the General Assembly and the Security Council in the coming months and provide a solid basis for decisions on further action that are necessary to secure accountability for both sides. This may include an eventual referral of the situation in Gaza by the UN Security Council to the International Criminal Court.

Amnesty International’s assessment is that the responses presented to the UN Secretary-General by Israel and Palestinian representatives demonstrate that neither side has taken the necessary steps to conduct investigations “that are independent, credible and in conformity with international standards”.

The organization has described the response of the Israeli authorities as “totally inadequate”, since investigations undertaken by them to date have failed to meet “international standards of independence, impartiality, transparency, promptness and effectiveness” (see Amnesty International’s press release of 2 February 2010: www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/latest-israeli-response-gaza-investi…).

The official Palestinian response to Ban Ki-moon was submitted by the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the UN and conveyed a letter from Prime Minister Salam Fayyad of the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.

The letter indicates that an investigative commission has recently been established but that investigations have yet to be carried out into specific allegations of violations of international law committed during the conflict.

Documents made public this week by the Ministry of Justice of the Hamas de facto administration in Gaza, by way of a response to the General Assembly’s call for investigations, provide no evidence of investigations which comply with international standards and focus on either denying the allegations of abuses committed by Palestinian armed groups or providing justifications for those violations.

Israel must end its suffocating blockade of the Gaza Strip, which leaves more than 1.4 million Palestinians cut off from the outside world and struggling with desperate poverty, Amnesty International said one year on from the end of Israelrsquo;s military offensive in Gaza.br /
br /
Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s briefing paper Suffocating: The Gaza Strip under Israeli blockade gathers testimony from people still struggling to rebuild their lives following Operation ldquo;Cast Leadrdquo;, which killed around 1,400 Palestinians and injured thousands more. br /
br /
ldquo;Israel claims that the ongoing blockade of Gaza, in force since June 2007, is a response to the indiscriminate rocket attacks launched from Gaza into southern Israel by Palestinian armed groups. The reality is that the blockade does not target armed groups but rather punishes Gazarsquo;s entire population by restricting the entry of food, medical supplies, educational equipment and building materials,rdquo; said Malcolm Smart, Middle East and North Africa Director, Amnesty International. br /
br /
ldquo;The blockade constitutes collective punishment under international law and must be lifted immediately.rdquo; br /
br /
As the occupying power, Israel has a duty under international law to ensure the welfare of Gazarsquo;s inhabitants, including their rights to health, education, food and adequate housing br /
br /
During Operation ldquo;Cast Leadrdquo;, from 27 December 2008 to 18 January 2009, 13 Israelis were killed, including three civilians in southern Israel, where dozens more were injured in indiscriminate rocket attacks by Palestinian armed groups. br /
nbsp; br /
In Gaza, Israeli attacks damaged or destroyed civilian buildings and infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, the water and electricity systems. Thousands of Palestinian homes were destroyed or severely damaged. br /
br /
An estimated 280 of the 641 schools in Gaza were damaged and 18 were destroyed. More than half of Gazarsquo;s population is under the age of 18 and the disruption to their education, due to the damage caused during Operation ldquo;Cast Leadrdquo; and as a result of the continuing Israeli boycott, is having a devastating impact. br /
br /
Hospitals have also been badly affected by the military offensive and the blockade. Trucks of medical aid provided by the World Health Organization have been repeatedly refused entry to Gaza without explanation by Israeli officials. br /
br /
Patients with serious medical conditions that cannot be treated in Gaza continue to be prevented or delayed from leaving Gaza by the Israeli authorities ndash; since the closure of crossings leading into and out of Gaza, patients have been made to apply for permits, but these permits are frequently denied. On 1 November 2009, Samir al-Nadim, a father of three children, died after his exit from Gaza for a heart operation was delayed by 22 days. br /
br /
Amnesty International spoke to a number of families whose homes were destroyed in the Israeli military operation and one year on are still living in temporary accommodation. br /
br /
Mohammed and Halima Mslih and their four young children fled their home in the village of Juhor al-Dik, south of Gaza City, during the conflict one year ago. While they were away their home was demolished by Israeli army bulldozers. br /
br /
ldquo;When we returned everything was broken. People were giving us food because we had nothing,rdquo; said Mohammed Mslih. br /
br /
Six months after the ceasefire the family was still living in a flimsy nylon tent and they have only now been able to construct a simple permanent home. The family fear, however, that continuing Israeli military incursions may destroy the little they have left. br /
br /
Unemployment in Gaza is spiralling as those businesses that remain struggle to survive under the blockade. In December 2009, the UN reported that unemployment in Gaza was over 40 per cent. br /
br /
ldquo;The blockade is strangling virtually every aspect of life for Gazarsquo;s population, more than half of whom are children. The increasing isolation and suffering of the people of Gaza cannot be allowed to continue. The Israeli government must comply with binding legal obligation, as the occupying power, to lift the blockade without further delay,rdquo; said Malcolm Smart.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/israel-wall-100.jpg alt= title= /br/Amnesty International has welcomed the release from detention of Palestinian human rights activist Mohammed Othman – but is concerned that the Israeli authorities have imposed conditions which will prevent him exercising his human rights.br /
br /
Mohammed Othman was arrested on 22 September 2009 when he returned from a visit to Norway where he spoke publicly about the adverse impact of the fence/wall that Israel is building on the territory of the occupied West Bank. br /
br /
He was held without charge under an administrative detention order until his release on Wednesday after laying down a guarantee of 10,000 Israeli shekels (around US$2,700). br /
br /
He is the second activist to be released by the Israeli authorities this week. br /
br /
However, his liberty is conditional on him not travelling outside the West Bank for an unspecified length of time and reporting to the police immediately whenever theynbsp; summon him for questioning. br /
br /
quot;The conditions applied to Mohammed Othman’s release from detention appear intended to prevent or deter him from continuing to campaign against the construction of the fence/wall in the West Bank and exposing the impact it has on the lives of Palestinians living there,quot; said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Director. br /
br /
quot;These conditions should be immediately rescinded.quot; br /
br /
Mohammed Othman’s release follows that of Jamal Jumarsquo;, who was freed without conditions on Tuesday. A third human rights activist, Abdallah Abu Rahma, remains in detention. br /
br /
Jamal Jumarsquo;, Mohammed Othman and Abdallah Abu Rahma have been campaigning against the West Bank fence/wall for years by raising awareness about its negative impact on Palestinians, organizing grassroots opposition and peacefully demonstrating against its construction.br /
br /
The three have repeatedly expressed their commitment to the principle of non-violence and Amnesty International is unaware of any credible evidence that they have used or advocated violence.br /
br /
Amnesty International continues to be concerned that Abdallah Abu Rahma is being detained solely on account of legitimately exercising his right to freedom of expression in opposing the Israeli fence/wall.br /
br /
If this is the case, he is a prisoner of conscience and should be released immediately and unconditionally. Otherwise he should be brought to trial on recognizable criminal charges and in full conformity with international fair trial standards.br /
br /
a href=http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/call-on-israel-to-release-detained-activistsimg src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/AI/action-button-en.gif alt= title= class=asset-align-right//abr /
nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; strongTake action on behalf of Palestinian activists/strongnbsp;

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/israel-jamal-juma-100.jpg alt= title= /br/Amnesty International has welcomed the release of Palestinian human rights activist Jamal Jumarsquo;, who was detained by the Israeli military late last year.br /
br /
Jamal Jumarsquo; was arrested in December 2009, joining fellow activists Abdallah Abu Rahma and Mohammed Othman in detention, following a series of protests against the construction of the fence/wall in the West Bank. br /
br /
Amnesty International last week called for the three men to be released unless they were brought before a fair trial. Jamal Jumarsquo; was released on Tuesday evening but Abdallah Abu Rahma and Mohammed Othman remain in detention.br /
br /
ldquo;Without international pressure I would not be out today,rdquo; Jamal Jumarsquo; told Amnesty International on Wednesday.br /
br /
ldquo;You can tell that there is pressure from abroad from how the guards behave with you inside. Yesterday I was released without charge and I thank everybody for their efforts and support.br /
br /
ldquo;However, many others are still in detention and there are more arrests of activists every day. The authorities must stop this harassment.rdquo;br /
br /
Jamal Jumarsquo;, Abdallah Abu Rahma and Mohammed Othman have been campaigning against the fence/wall for years by raising awareness about its negative impact on Palestinians, organizing grassroots opposition and peacefully demonstrating against its construction.br /
br /
The three have repeatedly expressed their commitment to the principle of non-violence and Amnesty International is unaware of any credible evidence that they have used or advocated violence.br /
br /
Amnesty International is concerned that Abdallah Abu Rahma and Mohammed Othman are being detained solely on account of legitimately exercising their right to freedom of expression in opposing the Israeli fence/wall. br /
br /
If this is the case, they are prisoners of conscience and should be released immediately and unconditionally. Otherwise they should be brought to trial on recognizable criminal charges and in full conformity with international fair trial standards.br /
br /
a href=http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/call-on-israel-to-release-detained-activistsimg src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/AI/action-button-en.gif alt= title= class=asset-align-right//abr /
nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; strongCall on Israel to release the two remaining activists/strongnbsp;

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/israel-wall-100.jpg alt= title= /br/The Israeli authorities must immediately release, or bring before a fair trial, three Palestinian human rights activists detained in Israel following their protests against the construction of the West Bank fence/wall, Amnesty International said on Friday. br /
br /
In a letter sent to Ehud Barak, Israeli Defence and Deputy Prime Minister on Thursday, Amnesty International expressed concern that Jamal Juma’, Abdallah Abu Rahma and Mohammed Othman were prisoners of conscience, held for legitimately voicing their opposition to the fence/wall. br /
br /
quot;These men have all been involved in campaigning against the building of this construction, much of it on the land of the occupied West Bank, and we fear that this is the real reason for their imprisonment,quot; said Malcolm Smart, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme. quot;If this is the case they must be released immediately and unconditionally.quot; br /
br /
Jamal Juma’ is the co-ordinator of the quot;Stop the Wallquot; campaign and a prominent human rights activist. He was arrested by the Israeli authorities on 16 December 2009. He has not been formally charged with any offence since his detention and information relating to his arrest has not been shared with his lawyer. br /
br /
A military court in Israel on Thursday extended Jamal Juma’s detention for another six days. br /
br /
Jamal Juma’ is being held under military law, which allows him to be tried without charge or trial for interrogation for up to 90 days. As someone who holds a Jerusalem ID card, according to Israeli law his case should be handled under the country’s civil, not military, legal system. Since his arrest he has only been permitted limited access to his lawyer. br /
br /
Abdallah Abu Rahma, head of the quot;Popular Committee Against the Wallquot; in the village of Bil’in, was arrested on 10 December 2009. He has been charged with three offences: incitement, stone-throwing, and possession of arms.br /
br /
Amnesty International said it understands the possession of arms charge relates to Abdallah Abu Rahma collecting used M16 bullets, and empty sound and gas grenades, employed by Israeli forces to disperse demonstrators against the wall, and exhibiting them in Bil’in museum to raise awareness of Israeli practices against protestors. br /
br /
Mohammed Othman, a volunteer with the quot;Stop the Wallquot; campaign, has been detained continuously since 22 September 2009. He was arrested on his return from Norway, after meeting activist groups there campaigning against the fence/wall and is being held without charge or trial in Israeli administrative detention. br /
br /
The International Court of Justice ruled in an advisory opinion in 2004 that the construction of the fence/wall on the territory of the occupied West Bank is contrary to international law and should be dismantled. Israel has ignored the ruling. br /
br /
quot;These three men are all well known for their defence of the human rights of Palestinians. In the unlikely event that there are genuine grounds to prosecute these men, they should be charged with recognizable criminal offences and brought promptly to trial in full conformity with international fair trial standards,quot; said Malcolm Smart.br /
a href=http://www.amnesty.org/en/appeals-for-action/call-on-israel-to-release-detained-activistsimg src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/AI/action-button-en.gif alt= title= class=asset-align-right//abr /
nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; strongCall on Israel to release the three Palestinian activists/strongnbsp;

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/gaza-report-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/Israel and Hamas have less than one month to show real progress in bringing to account those who perpetrated war crimes during the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel one year ago, Amnesty International warned on Monday ahead of a February deadline set by the UN.br /
br /
In November 2009, the UN General Assembly gave Israel and Hamas until 2 February to show that they are willing and able to undertake investigations that meet international standards into alleged war crimes and possible crimes against humanity committed during the 22-day conflict which ended on 18 January 2009.br /
br /
quot;The clock is running ndash; if both sides cannot provide real evidence that they are taking steps to put their houses in order, the international community will need to take measures to ensure that the perpetrators are held to account, and that the victims receive full reparation, including compensation,quot; said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s director for the Middle East and North Africa.br /
br /
Should investigations fail to meet required standards, it is the responsibility of the international community to bring the perpetrators of crimes to justice, including by the Security Council referring the situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC).br /
br /
quot;It would be far better if Israel and Hamas meet their own obligations to ensure accountability for serious crimes under international law, rather than creating a need to be referred to the ICC,quot; said Malcolm Smart.br /
br /
quot;The US and European governments who are protective of Israel, along with the Arab governments who have influence over Hamas, should urge the respective parties to meet their obligations while making it clear that the international community will step in if they continue to evade responsibility.quot;br /
br /
Following the publication of the UN-commissioned report by South African Judge Richard Goldstone into war crimes and other serious violations, including possible crimes against humanity, committed during the 2009 conflict, Amnesty International sent both the Israeli authorities and Hamas a document setting out the criteria for credible and independent domestic investigations that conform to international standards.br /
br /
Any investigations carried out by Israel and Hamas must be assessed against such criteria ndash; including the need for the investigating body to be impartial, competent, expert and independent ndash; and to have access to all relevant sources of information.br /
br /
The UN Fact Finding Mission headed by Judge Richard Goldstone found evidence that both sides had committed war crimes and other serious violations of international law.. So far, neither side has shown a willingness to conduct credible investigations.br /
br /
quot;The only investigations to have been carried out since the violence of one year ago have been by the Israeli military into the behaviour of their own forces.nbsp; Unfortunately these do not meet the international standards stipulated by the UN General Assembly and they have taken place behind closed doors,quot; said Malcolm Smart.nbsp; quot;For the investigations to have any credibility, they must be impartial, independent, thorough and transparent.quot;br /
br /
More than 300 children were among the hundreds of Palestinian civilians killed by indiscriminate Israeli attacks in Gaza. Three Israeli civilians were killed by rocket attacks by Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas, in violation of international law.br /
br /
Investigations conducted by Israel to date have failed to meet many of the essential standards. Those responsible for the limited investigations that have taken place are officers in the military ndash; the same institution whose actions are being examined. The process is also opaque: it is unknown which cases have been opened and which have been closed, and on the basis of what assessments. No prosecutions for violations of international law have been initiated. The only indication of the results is the declaration by the Israeli army that most allegations of serious violations of international law are baseless and that the rest can be put down to operational mistakes.br /
br /
Hamas, for its part, has not shown any serious inclination to set up an investigation. The de facto Hamas administration in Gaza has stopped firing indiscriminate rockets into civilian areas in southern Israel but only as a temporary measure and without renouncing the practice which Judge Goldstone declared to be a war crime.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/gaza-more-destruction-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/One year after Israel’s major military offensive on the Gaza Strip, Amnesty International has again urged all parties to meet their obligations to pursue accountability for war crimes and serious human rights violations that occurred during the conflict.br /
br /
quot;Impunity, if it is allowed to persist, not only undermines justice and the rule of law but makes it all the more likely that further, grave human rights violations will be committed,quot; said Malcolm Smart, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Amnesty International.br /
br /
No one has been held accountable for the war crimes and other grave violations of international law reported by a UN Fact Finding Mission, Amnesty International and Palestinian, Israeli and international human rights organizations.br /
br /
After the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel, the distinguished South African jurist Judge Richard Goldstone was mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to head a Fact Finding Mission to investigate allegations of war crimes and other violations of international humanitarian law and human rights.br /
br /
In a report published last September, Judge Goldstone and his team concluded that both the Israeli military forces and Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity.br /
br /
Following the Goldstone report, the UN General Assembly asked both the Israeli government and the Palestinian side to conduct their own investigations that are credible, independent and conform to international standards.br /
br /
Amnesty International said on Sunday that if they fail to do so the international community must step in and take the measures necessary to ensure that those who perpetrated war crimes or other crimes under international law are held to account.br /
br /
quot;There must be accountability for what happened in Gaza and southern Israel one year ago,quot; said Malcolm Smart. quot;Those responsible, on both sides, cannot be allowed to evade accountability for the crimes that were committed. If the Israelis and Palestinians cannot ndash; or will not ndash; deliver justice themselves, the international community must ensure that the perpetrators are held to account.quot;br /
br /
Meanwhile, Gaza remains effectively cut off from the outside world by the continuing Israeli military blockade, which limits the amount of food, fuel, and other essential items that are allowed into the Gaza Strip, rendering reconstruction and recovery from the war virtually impossible.br /
br /
The Israeli government launched its offensive on the Gaza Strip on 27 December 2008, with the declared aim of stopping Palestinian armed groups from firing indiscriminate rockets into southern Israel.br /
br /
In the three weeks that followed, the population of Gaza was subjected to aerial and ground attacks by the Israeli military that left some 1400 Palestinians dead, including hundreds of unarmed civilians and more than 300 children.br /
br /
Thirteen Israelis were killed during the conflict, including three civilians killed in rocket attacks by Palestinian armed groups.br /
br /
An Amnesty International research team in southern Israel and Gaza during and in the immediate aftermath of the fighting found compelling evidence of war crimes and other serious violations by Israeli forces and by Palestinian armed groups.br /
br /
The hundreds of unguided rockets fired by Palestinian armed groups at Israeli towns and villages were incapable of being directed at specific targets. They killed three civilians, injured others, damaged civilian buildings in southern Israel, and displaced thousands from their homes.br /
br /
In Gaza, the Israeli military used a range of imprecise weapons and munitions in densely-populated civilian areas; these included artillery shells and mortars, and flechette shells fired from tanks.br /
br /
Israeli forces repeatedly fired highly incendiary white phosphorus shells, many of which burst in the air over densely-populated areas showering people and buildings beneath with burning wedges impregnated with white phosphorus. The use of white phosphorus is strictly restricted under international law because of its highly incendiary nature; when it lands on human skin it burns deeply through the skin, muscle tissue and into the bone.br /
br /
Some Israeli attacks were directed against UN compounds, including on buildings where Palestinian civilians had fled in search of sanctuary.br /
br /
Many Palestinian civilians were killed with high-precision weapons which can strike with extreme accuracy, relying on surveillance drones which have exceptionally good optics, allowing those watching to see their targets in detail. Israeli officials have yet to explain adequately why so many civilians were killed in these types of attacks.br /
br /
During the 22 days of the offensive, Israeli forces frequently obstructed medical care and humanitarian aid from those wounded and trapped.nbsp; They prevented ambulances and medical staff from attending to the wounded and transporting them to hospital and in several cases targeted ambulance and rescue crews and others who were trying to evacuate the wounded.br /
br /
Thousands of homes in Gaza as well as hospitals, schools, and the water and the electricity infrastructure were destroyed or damaged by the Israeli military.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/israel-gilad-shalit-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/Amnesty International has made a renewed call for the humane treatment of all detainees in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, following reports that captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit may be released in a prisoner exchange.br /
br /
Several armed groups were involved in Shalit’s capture although it is thought that Hamas is now exclusively holding him. In exchange for his release, Hamas is reported to be demanding the release of a number of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.br /
br /
Amnesty International has called on Hamas to abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law. The organization said that Gilad Shalit must be treated humanely, granted access to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and allowed to communicate regularly with his family.br /
br /
Corporal Gilad Shalit was 19 when he was captured on 25 June 2006 by Palestinian armed groups during an attack on an army base in southern Israel in which two other soldiers were killed and a third was injured.br /
br /
Since then his exact location has not been revealed and the ICRC has been denied access to him.br /
br /
With the permission of Gilad Shalit’s family, Israeli television broadcast a Hamas video in October that showed Shalit reading a statement and holding a copy of a newspaper dated 14 September 2009. Negotiations are ongoing.br /
br /
Amnesty International has campaigned on behalf of Gilad Shalit since 2006. Its members have written letters to Hamas officials calling for his humane treatment and sent letters of solidarity to the Shalit family.br /
br /
Gilad Shalit’s parents Noam and Aviva Shalit have been extremely active in campaigning for his release.br /
br /
Amnesty International has also raised the issue of the conditions of Gilad Shalitrsquo;s detention and demanded that he be given access to the ICRC in meetings with the Hamas de facto authority in Gaza. br /
br /
In the weeks following the attack in which Gilad Shalit was taken prisoner, the Israeli authorities launched a prolonged military offensive against the Gaza Strip, in which over 100 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces, including dozens of children and many other unarmed civilians.br /
br /
During the military operation, which involved air bombardment and artillery shelling, Israeli forces also attacked and destroyed or damaged civilian infrastructure including bridges, roads, and the electricity network.br /
br /
The Israeli army arrested scores of Palestinian officials, among them government ministers and other members of the Palestinian parliament. Some of these detainees have subsequently been released. Amnesty International has urged both Israeli and Palestinian parties not to use detention as a political tactic and detainees as bargaining tools. br /
br /
The organization has also criticized the Israeli authorities’ use of administrative detention whereby Palestinians are held, sometimes for years, without charge or trial. As of September 2009, some 335 Palestinians were being held in administrative detention in Israeli jails.br /
br /
Amnesty International members have campaigned on behalf of such Palestinian administrative detainees, including 17-year-old student Hamdi al-Tarsquo;mari and university lecturer Dr Ghassan Khaled.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/gaza-more-destruction-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/Thursday’s UN vote adopting key recommendations of the Goldstone report on the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel earlier this year is vitally important for ensuring that those, on both sides, who committed war crimes and other violations of international law will now be held to account, said Amnesty International. br /
br /
quot;Both Israel and Hamas in Gaza have been served due notice, in this defining General Assembly resolution, that they must immediately conduct credible, independent investigations into the alleged grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law committed during the conflict,quot; said Yvonne Terlingen, Head of Amnesty International’s Office at the UN on Thursday. br /
br /
quot;The clock is now running and we urge both parties to act without further delay. The UN has spoken up today for accountability and for an end to the cycle of impunity that has for so long obstructed the search for peace and justice between Israelis and Palestinians.quot; br /
br /
The UN General Assembly resolution, based on the findings of the UN Fact Finding Mission led by Justice Goldstone, which concluded that both Israeli and Palestinian forces committed war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity, was adopted by a large majority: 114 states voted in favour, 18 voted against and 44 abstained. The USA and 7 European Union (EU) states voted against the resolution while Russia abstained. br /
br /
quot;We deeply regret that the USA and the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia voted against the resolution and failed to support the need for accountability, justice and human rights that are so vital for victims of abuses in this conflict,quot; said Terlingen. br /
br /
The resolution calls on the UN Secretary-General to transmit Judge Goldstone’s report to the Security Council, which has powers to refer the situation in Gaza to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court if Israel and Hamas prove unable or unwilling to conduct independent investigations that meet international standards. It also calls on the UN Secretary-General to present a progress report to the General Assembly in three months’ time. br /
br /
quot;We urge the UN Secretary-General to now appoint independent experts in human rights and international humanitarian law to assess whether any investigations that are conducted by Israel and Hamas meet the required international standardquot;, said Terlingen. br /
br /
The findings of the Goldstone report echo those of an Amnesty International team that investigated alleged violations in Gaza and southern Israel during and in the immediate aftermath of the conflict, in which hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including some 300 children, and three Israeli civilians were killed. br /
br /
quot;Almost one year on, those who suffered war crimes and other gross violations of their rights, are still waiting for justicequot;, said Amnesty International. quot;It is our fervent hope that today’s UN General Assembly resolution will act as a catalyst to make justice and reparation a reality for the victims on both sides.quot;

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/gaza-more-destruction-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/Thursday’s UN vote adopting key recommendations of the Goldstone report on the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel earlier this year is vitally important for ensuring that those, on both sides, who committed war crimes and other violations of international law will now be held to account, said Amnesty International. br /
br /
quot;Both Israel and Hamas in Gaza have been served due notice, in this defining General Assembly resolution, that they must immediately conduct credible, independent investigations into the alleged grave violations of human rights and humanitarian law committed during the conflict,quot; said Yvonne Terlingen, Head of Amnesty International’s Office at the UN on Thursday. br /
br /
quot;The clock is now running and we urge both parties to act without further delay. The UN has spoken up today for accountability and for an end to the cycle of impunity that has for so long obstructed the search for peace and justice between Israelis and Palestinians.quot; br /
br /
The UN General Assembly resolution, based on the findings of the UN Fact Finding Mission led by Justice Goldstone, which concluded that both Israeli and Palestinian forces committed war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity, was adopted by a large majority: 114 states voted in favour, 18 voted against and 44 abstained. The USA and 7 European Union (EU) states voted against the resolution while Russia abstained. br /
br /
quot;We deeply regret that the USA and the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Slovakia voted against the resolution and failed to support the need for accountability, justice and human rights that are so vital for victims of abuses in this conflict,quot; said Terlingen. br /
br /
The resolution calls on the UN Secretary-General to transmit Judge Goldstone’s report to the Security Council, which has powers to refer the situation in Gaza to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court if Israel and Hamas prove unable or unwilling to conduct independent investigations that meet international standards. It also calls on the UN Secretary-General to present a progress report to the General Assembly in three months’ time. br /
br /
quot;We urge the UN Secretary-General to now appoint independent experts in human rights and international humanitarian law to assess whether any investigations that are conducted by Israel and Hamas meet the required international standardquot;, said Terlingen. br /
br /
The findings of the Goldstone report echo those of an Amnesty International team that investigated alleged violations in Gaza and southern Israel during and in the immediate aftermath of the conflict, in which hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including some 300 children, and three Israeli civilians were killed. br /
br /
quot;Almost one year on, those who suffered war crimes and other gross violations of their rights, are still waiting for justicequot;, said Amnesty International. quot;It is our fervent hope that today’s UN General Assembly resolution will act as a catalyst to make justice and reparation a reality for the victims on both sides.quot;

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/gaza-school-rubble-100.jpg alt= title= /br/On the eve of a United Nations General Assembly debate, Amnesty International has called on UN ambassadors in New York to grasp a unique opportunity to address accountability for war crimes in Gaza and southern Israel earlier in the year.br /
br /
The General Assembly will convene on Wednesday to debate the comprehensive and authoritative report of the Fact Finding Mission led by Judge Richard Goldstone. The report found that the Israeli and Palestinian sides committed serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity.br /
br /
Amnesty International sent an open letter to all permanent representatives to the General Assembly and another to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.br /
br /
In the letter to the General Assembly, the organization reiterated its call for Israel and the de facto administration in Gaza to immediately start independent investigations that meet international standards as recommended in the Goldstone report.br /
br /
Amnesty International also urged the General Assembly to ask Ban Ki-moon to promptly establish a committee of independent and impartial experts in international law to assess the effectiveness and genuineness of any accountability measures taken by the Israeli and Palestinian authorities.br /
br /
Amnesty International wrote that it deplores the failure on the part of both Israel and Hamas to conduct credible investigations and stressed: quot;There must be no whitewash.quot;br /
br /
quot;Israel has sought to counter the reportrsquo;s recommendations and to shield its soldiers from any independent investigation,quot; the letter said.br /
br /
quot;Hamas, for its part, has studiously failed to repudiate the practice of launching unguided rockets into civilian areas of southern Israel, which cannot be justified under international humanitarian law, and to commit to preventing such attacks. Rather, it is considering creating a committee to present its case.quot; br /
br /
Amnesty International also urged the General Assembly to ask Ban Ki-moon to transmit the Goldstone report to the Security Council, and reminded all states parties to the 1949 Geneva Conventions of their responsibility to exercise universal jurisdiction.

West Bank farmer Mahmoud al-’Alam won’t forget the day Israeli army bulldozers cut off his water supply… and destroyed his livelihood.br /
br /
The village of Beit Ula, where Mahmoud lives, is not connected to the Palestinian water network. Instead the community, located north-west of Hebron, relies on rainwater, which it collects and stores in pots dug in the ground, known as cisterns.br /
br /
The nine new cisterns built in 2006 as part of a European Union-funded project to improve food security became the pride of the village. The cisterns were vital to the survival of the nine families that used themhellip; until the bulldozers arrived.br /
br /
quot;[The Israeli army] destroyed everything; they went up and down several timesbr /
with the bulldozer and uprooted everything,quot; recalls Mahmoud al-’Alam.br /
br /
In a few hours, years of hard work had been undone. The cisterns had been built with the help of two local nongovernmental organizations, the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees and the Palestinian Hydrology Group.br /
br /
The cisterns provided water for 3,200 newly planted trees including olive, almond, lemon and fig trees. The farmers had also contributed a significant portion of the overall cost of the project.br /
br /
ldquo;We invested a lot of money and worked very hard,quot; said Mahmoud al-’Alam. quot;This is good land and it was a very good project. We put a lot of thought into how to shape the terraces and build the cisterns in the best way, to make the best use of the land, and we planted trees which need little waterhellip; the saplings were growing well…quot;br /
br /
The story of Beit Ula is one of many cases where Israeli forces have targeted Palestinian communities in the region.br /
br /
On 4 June 2009, the Israeli army destroyed the homes and livestock pens of 18br /
Palestinian families in Ras al-Ahmar, a hamlet in the Jordan Valley area of the West Bank.br /
br /
More than 130 people were affected, many of them children. Crucially, the soldiersbr /
confiscated the water tank, tractor and trailer used by the villagers to bring in water. They were left without shelter or a water supply at the hottest time of the year.br /
br /
On 28 July 2007, Israeli soldiers at a military checkpoint confiscated the tractor and water tanker of Ahmad Abdallah Bani Odeh, a villager from the hamlet of Humsa. br /
br /
An Israeli army official told Amnesty International that the vital items were being confiscated in an attempt to force the villagers from the area, which the army had declared a ldquo;closed military areardquo;.br /
br /
In another village, a rainwater harvesting cistern belonging to Palestinian villagers was destroyed by the Israeli army under the pretext that it was built without a permit. Permits for water projects have to be obtained from the Israeli authorities but are rarely granted to Palestinians.br /
br /
In recent years the homes of Palestinians living in the Jordan Valley have been repeatedly destroyed and their water tankers confiscated. br /
br /
Each time, the homes ndash; tents and simple shacks made of metal and plastic sheets ndash; are rebuilt. Because of the villagersrsquo; determination to remain on their land despite extremely harsh living conditions, the Israeli army has increasingly restricted their access to water as a way of forcing them to abandon the area.br /
br /
Inrsquo;am Bisharat, a mother of seven from the village of Hadidiya, told Amnesty International: ldquo;We live in the harshest conditions, without water, electricity or any services. br /
br /
quot;The lack of water is the biggest problem. The men spend most of the dayhellip;[going] to get water and they canrsquo;t always bring it. But we have no choice. We need a little bit of water to survive and to keep the sheep alive. Without water there is no life. br /
br /
quot;The [Israeli] army has cut us off from everywherehellip;We donrsquo;t choose to live like this; we would also like to have beautiful homes and gardens and farms, but these privileges are only for the Israeli settlershellip; we are not even allowed basic services.rdquo;br /
br /
The lack of water has already forced many Palestinians to leave the Jordan Valley and the survival of the communities is increasingly threatened. In Beit Ula, Mahmoud al-’Alam’s livelihood is similarly at risk. br /
br /
quot;It is very painful for me every time to come here and see the destruction; everything we worked for is gone. Why would anyone want to do this? What good can come from [it]?rdquo; he asks.br /

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/palestine-cistern-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/Amnesty International has accused Israel of denying Palestinians the
right to access adequate water by maintaining total control over the
shared water resources and pursuing discriminatory policies. br /
br /
These unreasonably restrict the availability of water in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories (OPT) and prevent the Palestinians developing
an effective water infrastructure there. br /
br /
ldquo;Israel allows the Palestinians access to only a fraction of the shared
water resources, which lie mostly in the occupied West Bank, while the
unlawful Israeli settlements there receive virtually unlimited
supplies. In Gaza the Israeli blockade has made an already dire
situation worse,rdquo; said Donatella Rovera, Amnesty Internationalrsquo;s
researcher on Israel and the OPT. br /
br /
In a new extensive report, Amnesty International revealed the extent to
which Israelrsquo;s discriminatory water policies and practices are denying
Palestinians their right to access to water. br /
br /
Israel uses more than 80 per cent of the water from the Mountain
Aquifer, the main source of underground water in Israel and the OPT,
while restricting Palestinian access to a mere 20 per cent. br /
br /
The Mountain Aquifer is the only source for water for Palestinians in
the West Bank, but only one of several for Israel, which also takes for
itself all the water available from the Jordan River. br /
br /
While Palestinian daily water consumption barely reaches 70 litres a
day per person, Israeli daily consumption is more than 300 litres per
day, four times as much. br /
br /
In some rural communities Palestinians survive on barely 20 litres per
day, the minimum amount recommended for domestic use in emergency
situations. br /
br /
Some 180,000-200,000 Palestinians living in rural communities have no
access to running water and the Israeli army often prevents them from
even collecting rainwater. br /
br /
In contrast, Israeli settlers, who live in the West Bank in violation
of international law, have intensive-irrigation farms, lush gardens and
swimming pools. br /
br /
Numbering about 450,000, the settlers use as much or more water than the Palestinian population of some 2.3 million. br /
br /
In the Gaza Strip, 90 to 95 per cent of the water from its only water
resource, the Coastal Aquifer, is contaminated and unfit for human
consumption. Yet, Israel does not allow the transfer of water from the
Mountain Aquifer in the West Bank to Gaza. br /
br /
Stringent restrictions imposed in recent years by Israel on the entry
into Gaza of material and equipment necessary for the development and
repair of infrastructure have caused further deterioration of the water
and sanitation situation in Gaza, which has reached crisis point. br /
br /
To cope with water shortages and lack of network supplies many
Palestinians have to purchase water, of often dubious quality, from
mobile water tankers at a much higher price. br /
br /
Others resort to water-saving measures which are detrimental to their
and their familiesrsquo; health and which hinder socio-economic development.
br /
br /
ldquo;Over more than 40 years of occupation, restrictions imposed by Israel
on the Palestiniansrsquo; access to water have prevented the development of
water infrastructure and facilities in the OPT, consequently denying
hundreds of thousand of Palestinians the right to live a normal life,
to have adequate food, housing, or health, and to economic
development,rdquo; said Donatella Rovera. br /
br /
Israel has appropriated large areas of the water-rich Palestinian land it occupies and barred Palestinians from accessing them. br /
br /
It has also imposed a complex system of permits which the Palestinians
must obtain from the Israeli army and other authorities in order to
carry out water-related projects in the OPT. Applications for such
permits are often rejected or subject to long delays. br /
br /
Restrictions imposed by Israel on the movement of people and goods in
the OPT further compound the difficulties Palestinians face when trying
to carry out water and sanitation projects, or even just to distribute
small quantities of water. br /
br /
Water tankers are forced to take long detours to avoid Israeli military
checkpoints and roads which are out of bounds to Palestinians,
resulting in steep increases in the price of water. br /
br /
In rural areas, Palestinian villagers are continuously struggling to
find enough water for their basic needs, as the Israeli army often
destroys their rainwater harvesting cisterns and confiscates their
water tankers. br /
br /
In comparison, irrigation sprinklers water the fields in the midday sun
in nearby Israeli settlements, where much water is wasted as it
evaporates before even reaching the ground. br /
br /
In some Palestinian villages, because their access to water has been so
severely restricted, farmers are unable to cultivate the land, or even
to grow small amounts of food for their personal consumption or for
animal fodder, and have thus been forced to reduce the size of their
herds. br /
br /
ldquo;Water is a basic need and a right, but for many Palestinians obtaining
even poor-quality subsistence-level quantities of water has become a
luxury that they can barely afford,rdquo; said Donatella Rovera. br /
br /
ldquo;Israel must end its discriminatory policies, immediately lift all the
restrictions it imposes on Palestiniansrsquo; access to water, and take
responsibility for addressing the problems it created by allowing
Palestinians a fair share of the shared water resources.rdquo;
br /
br /
strongREAD MORE/strongbr /
a href=http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/day-bulldozers-came-20091026The day the bulldozers came…/a (Feature, 27 October 2009)

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/gaza-jabalia-crater-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/The political divisions surrounding the adoption of todayrsquo;s Human Rights Council resolution on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories must not become an obstacle to investigations into serious violations of international law reported during the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel, Amnesty International said. br /
br /
The resolution addresses human rights violations by the Israelis but, while condemning ldquo;all targeting of civiliansrdquo;, fails to mention explicitly violations by Hamas and other Palestinian groups. It was passed with a divisive vote that saw countries from all regions abstain, oppose or refuse to vote on the resolution.br /
br /
Although the resolution endorses the recommendations in the Goldstone report, the process that led to the passing of the resolution will make it more difficult for the United Nations to work constructively on giving effect to the reportrsquo;s key findings.br /
nbsp;br /
In the Councilrsquo;s debates on the Goldstone report, a preponderance of delegations from all regions acknowledged its value and called for an end to impunity and accountability for violations of international law committed by all parties to the conflict. However, Amnesty International regrets that, overall, member states failed to step up to the challenge to reach a formulation that would reflect the consensus on the need for accountability.br /
br /
The resolution recommends that the UN General Assembly, the next body which is able to consider the Goldstone report, do so during its current session. Amnesty International urges the Assembly to demand that both Israel and the Hamas de facto administration in Gaza immediately start independent investigations that meet international standards into alleged war crimes, possible crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international law reported during the conflict.br /
br /
The investigations must be in line with the recommendations made in the report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict headed by Judge Richard Goldstonebr /
br /
The General Assembly must set up a committee of independent and impartial experts in international law to assess the effectiveness and genuineness of the measures taken within a set time frame by Israelis and Palestinians, as well as their compatibility with international standards, or request the UN Secretary General to do so. br /
br /
It must also make provision to address any failure by Israeli or the relevant Palestinian authorities to effectively address accountability. br /
br /
The Goldstone report concluded that Israel as well as Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza committed grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including war crimes and possible crimes against humanity. br /
br /
Its findings are fully consistent with those of Amnesty International and other human rights organizations that carried out similar investigations. br /
br /
No credible investigation has so far been conducted by either Israel or the Palestinians. br /
br /
Amnesty International reminds states party to the 1949 Geneva Conventions of their individual responsibility for ensuring accountability by exercising universal jurisdiction in initiating criminal investigations in national courts, where there is sufficient admissible evidence of grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions. br /
br /
The organization believes that accountability for serious violations international law is an essential component of the process for establishing a just and lasting peace in the region.

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/gaza-idf-forces-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/Amnesty International urges the Human Rights Council to call on Israel and the authorities in Gaza to immediately open investigations into alleged war crimes, possible crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international law reported during the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel. br /
br /
The Human Rights Council, which is holding a special session on the issue today, nbsp;br /
should also call on Israel and the Palestinian authorities in Gaza to report on their investigations and related prosecutions to the Council at its thirteenth regular session in March 2010. br /
br /
This would allow the Council to assess whether appropriate action is being taken to ensure justice for victims of violations and accountability for the perpetrators. br /
br /
The Human Rights Council should mandate the UN Secretary-General to establish a committee to monitor the steps taken by Israelis and Palestinians to bring those responsible for international crimes committed in Gaza and southern Israel to justice. br /
br /
In a letter sent to all General Assembly members on Monday in anticipation of the Security Councilrsquo;s open debate, Amnesty International said the committee must be made up of independent and impartial experts in international law. br /
br /
Amnesty International welcomes statements by permanent members of the Security Council and by the UN Secretary-General yesterday calling for domestic investigations by Israel and Hamas. br /
br /
However, the UN needs to go further and ensure that such investigations meet international standards. br /
br /
A UN-appointed committee of experts would fulfil this task by monitoring and assessing the progress and effectiveness of the domestic investigations and related prosecutions by Israel and the Hamas de facto administration in Gaza. br /
br /
It should report its findings to the Human Rights Council for its March 2010 session and to the Security Council and other appropriate UN bodies.br /
br /
The Security Council should review the reports to the Human Rights Council and the committeersquo;s findings to determine whether the Israeli government and the authorities in Gaza have made real progress in ensuring accountability, failing which the Security Council should refer the situation in Gaza to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.br /
br /
Amnesty International also reiterates its call on Israel and Hamas to immediately open thorough, independent and impartial investigations into all violations of international law that took place during the 22-day conflict in Gaza and southern Israel and to prosecute those found responsible.br /
br /
Their investigations must be in line with the recommendations made in the report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict headed by Judge Richard Goldstone. br /
br /
That report, also known as the Goldstone report, was made public in New York on 15 September 2009 and presented to the Human Rights Council on 29 September 2009. br /
br /
It concluded that Israel as well as Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups in Gaza committed grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, including war crimes and possible crimes against humanity. br /
br /
Its findings are fully consistent with those of Amnesty International and other human rights organizations that carried out similar investigations. br /
br /
The report recommended that both Israel and the authorities in Gaza launch independent investigations in conformity with international standards into serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. No credible investigation has so far been conducted by either Israel or the Palestinians.br /

img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/MENA/gaza-more-destruction-100×100.jpg alt= title= /br/p
Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan has urged the US government to examine the findings of Judge Richard Goldstonersquo;snbsp; report on violations of international law committed in Gaza and southern Israel in late December and January.br /
br /
The report found Israeli forces committed violations of human rights and international humanitarian law amounting to war crimes and some possibly amounting to crimes against humanity.br /
br /
quot;The White House should actually now examine that report and ask the UN Secretary General to refer it to the UN Security Council,quot; said Ms Khan in an interview with Al Jazeera on Thursday. br /
br /
quot;It’s the responsibility of the UN Security Council to take that report as seriously as it has taken reports for instance on the situation in Darfur. There can be no double standards for justice for war crimes or crimes against humanity.quot;br /
br /
Ms Khan also addressed suggestions that the findings of Judge Goldstone’s inquiry, published on Tuesday, were biased against Israel. br /
br /
She said that while most of the 575-page report was focused on the behaviour of Israeli forces, Judge Goldstone also recognised that Hamas also had a responsibility to respect international humanitarian law.br /
br /
quot;By looking at it in that way, he actually increases the credibility,quot; said Ms Khan. br /
br /
quot;He shows that this is not just propaganda, this is actually the way to judge the Israeli government’s performance against international human rights and humanitarian law standards.quot;br /
br /
Ms Khan described Judge Goldstone as a quot;very credible international prosecutorquot; with a quot;good record on international lawquot;.br /
br /
Rejecting accusations that Judge Goldstone had been biased against Israel, Ms Khan said quot;He has done a very thorough, professional job, he and his colleagues.quot;br /
br /
Despite powerful evidence of war crimes and other serious violations of international law which emerged during and in the aftermath of the conflict, both Israel and Hamas have failed to carry out credible investigations and prosecute those responsible.br /
br /
Ms Khan said that she was pleased that the findings of Judge Goldstone’s report echoed those of Amnesty International’s fact-finding mission to Gaza in January. br /
br /
quot;Judge Goldstone has confirmed that there were war crimes committed by the Israeli forces and also crimes against humanity, attacks on civilians that had no military purpose, excessive destruction of buildings, blockage of food and other essentials to the civilian population.br /
br /
quot;We are also pleased that Judge Goldstone took a balanced approach and also looked at violations committed by the Hamas authorities. And we are very pleased that he has recommended accountability for what has been done,quot; said Ms Khan.br /
br /
In his report, Judge Goldstone has asked that the UN Security Council set up a mechanism to monitor whether the Israeli government and the Hamas administration investigate the crimes within a set period of six months. br /
br /
If they do not, Judge Goldstone has said that the Security Council should refer his findings to the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor.br /
br /
quot;We think there needs to be justice for the victims of Gaza and Judge Goldstone has provided a way for that,quot; said Ms Khan.br /
br /
On Tuesday, Amnesty International welcomed the findings of the Goldstone report as consistent with those of its own field investigation into the 22-day conflict.br /
br /
The organization called on all relevant UN bodies to act promptly and in coordination to implement the recommendations of the report.br /
br /
quot;The responsibility now lies with the international community, notably the UN Security Council, as the UN’s most powerful body, to take decisive action to ensure accountability for the perpetrators and justice for the victims,quot; said Donatella Rovera, who headed Amnesty International’s investigation into the conflict.br /
br /
The UN’s Human Rights Council announced Judge Goldstone as the head of its four-member Gaza fact-finding mission on 3 April.
/p