JERUSALEM — Human rights activists, some charging whitewash, demanded an independent war crimes investigation after Israel’s military on Wednesday cleared itself of wrongdoing over civilian deaths in the Gaza war.
At least 1,100 people in Gaza were killed during the three-week offensive against Hamas that ended Jan. 18, according to counts by both sides. Israel insisted a majority of the war dead were militants, while the Palestinians said most were civilians.
The U.N. has appointed former war crimes prosecutor Richard Goldstone to lead an investigation. Israel says it’s very unlikely it will cooperate, alleging the U.N. agency is biased. Hamas, Gaza’s sole ruler since a violent takeover in 2007, said it would work with the investigator.
If Israel has nothing to hide, it should cooperate with Goldstone, a coalition of Israeli human rights groups and the New York-based Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.
At least 1,100 people in Gaza were killed during the three-week offensive against Hamas that ended Jan. 18, according to counts by both sides. Israel insisted a majority of the war dead were militants, while the Palestinians said most were civilians.
The U.N. has appointed former war crimes prosecutor Richard Goldstone to lead an investigation. Israel says it’s very unlikely it will cooperate, alleging the U.N. agency is biased. Hamas, Gaza’s sole ruler since a violent takeover in 2007, said it would work with the investigator.
If Israel has nothing to hide, it should cooperate with Goldstone, a coalition of Israeli human rights groups and the New York-based Human Rights Watch said Wednesday.
by the associated press
