The United Nations has accused both Israel and the Palestinians of committing “war crimes” in the Gaza strip. The report, compiled by former international prosecutor Richard Goldstone, recommends investigations are carried out into the actions of both sides in the conflict but Israel was singled out for particular criticism.
 

Listen to an interview with Phil Wilcox, President of the Foundation for Middle East Peace

Allegations not unexpected
Phil Wilcox, President of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, told Radio Netherlands the serious allegations were not unexpected and follow similar findings by other human rights organisations. He said the root of the problem is Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.

“The abuses documented in this report…. are in some way the inevitable result of an intractable military occupation….. This kind of thing can’t be done antiseptically, it almost always results in violence and  brutality and violation of human rights.

5,000 injured
The report looks in detail a three-week offensive that ended in January this year, and its findings will be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council at the end of the month. Around 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed and  more than 5,000 people in Gaza were injured during the fighting.
 

The panel found Israel failed to take precautions to minimise loss of civilian life and is lambasted in the document for using “disproportionate force”. It said the actions of the Israeli Defence Forces during an assault on the Gaza strip eight months ago may have amounted to war crimes.

The firing of rockets by armed Palestinians was also described war crimes that “may amount to crimes against humanity.”

War crimes
Today’s findings come just weeks after a report by Human Rights Watch which also concluded both sides were guilty of war crimes.

Israel refused to cooperate with Richard Goldstone’s team and today Israeli Defence Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor described the UN dossier as “a farce”.

“They already decided that Israel committed war crimes before even conducting the investigation...They haven't produced the slightest evidence for it. The fact that you say it doesn't make it true."