Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., October 28, 2009 Cheshvan 10, 5770 | | Israel Time: 09:14 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Jewish World Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Focus U.S.A. Strenger than Fiction Business Travel Magazine Week's End Anglo File Books
Share |
Last update - 17:16 21/10/2009
International rights group: Hamas must probe attacks on Israeli civilians
By DPA and Haaretz Service
Tags: Goldstone Gaza report 

Hamas authorities in Gaza should immediately launch a "credible investigation" into allegations of serious violations by its fighters during last winter's Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Wednesday.

The call came in a letter HRW sent on Tuesday to Ismail Haniyeh, prime minister of the de facto Hamas government in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas said in response that while it would launched an investigation, the HRW appeal was better directed toward Israel.
Advertisement

A statement issued by HRW noted that a United Nations fact-finding mission into the Gaza fighting, led by Justice Richard Goldstone, called on Hamas and Israel to investigate within three months alleged war crimes by their respective forces during the December 27 to January 18 fighting.

The Goldstone report accused Israel of firing white phosphorous shells in populated areas during the fighting, and of using Palestinian civilians as "human shields" by forcing them to search the homes of militants.

It also said that the Palestinian rocket attacks against Israeli civilian centers, Israel's reason for launching the offensive, should be regarded as war crimes.

Haniyeh's political adviser Yousef Rizka said in response to the
HRW call that the Hamas-led government of Gaza "will carry out all Goldstone's recommendations involving the Hamas-mandated Gaza Strip."

But, he added, HRW "should have sent its letter to Israel" which has so far refused to investigate the Goldstone report's accusations against it.

"Hamas, just like Israel, need to make clear to its forces that unlawful attacks on civilians will not be ignored," HRW official Sara
Leah Whitson said.

Although Hamas has said it will probe the allegations against it, in previous occasions "it has failed to investigate any of its fighters and commanders who violated the rules of war," HRW said.

"In the past, Hamas tried to justify the unjustifiable by defending the unlawful rocket attacks. Having now promised to follow the Goldstone report's recommendations, Hamas has no excuse for not carrying out serious war crimes investigations," Whitson said.

Israel may press war crimes charges against Hamas

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Ministry officials said Wednesday that they were considering pressing charges against Hamas leaders and militants in international courts, Israel Radio reported.

The possible charges refer to war crimes committed by Hamas during the 8-year period preceding the Gaza offensive in December 2008.

Intelligence officials have agreed to release classified information including names and photographs of Hamas militants in order to back the claims in international courts.

Defense Ministry sources said they are currently compiling files with the necessary information which will back the charges against Hamas leaders who were involved in terror attacks from Gaza.

The cases focus on attacks carried out from within schools, homes and UN facilities within the Gaza strip over an 8-year period.

Defense officials said that it was inconceivable that IDF officials must travel abroad with the impending fear that they could be charged and arrested for war crimes, while Hamas leaders continue to travel lightheartedly.

He also said that within a few days Israel could press charges against hundreds of Hamas militants but that possible repercussions were still being considered.

In regard to Israel's own alleged crimes, calls are growing for the government to adhere to the Goldstone report's recommendations and establish an inquiry commission.

The latest to lend his voice to the clamor was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intelligence Dan Meridor, who said that the country should set up its own independent investigative committee.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak, on the other hand, opposes any internal probe, as does military chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi.

The views Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds on the matter are not yet known.

On Tuesday the Israeli security cabinet met to discuss the implications of the report, hearing briefings from the foreign ministry, the head of military intelligence and the head of the national security council.

Discussions will continue, a government statement said.

Related articles:
  • Report: Hamas arrests militants planning to fire rockets at Israel
  • UN probe: Israel, Palestinians both guilty of Gaza war crimes
  • Barak to UN Chief: Probe Hamas rockets, not Israel 'war crimes'
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Jones hits J Street
    Obama's national security adviser: 'U.S. commitment to Israel not just a slogan.'
    Palestinian olive threat
    Settlers march in north West Bank to protest 'security threat' posed by harvest.
      1.   Israel should expect some of it`s citizens 17:01  |  Sophie Long 21/10/09
      2.   You GO Israel!!! 17:03  |  Marteen 21/10/09
      3.   1,137 civilians killed in Gaza and three in Israel during three 17:06  |  Sussana Morgana 21/10/09
      4.   Gotta be a joke 17:19  |  Jasper 21/10/09
      5.   Theater of the absured 17:21  |  Bazmann 21/10/09
      6.   To Sussana Morgana 17:28  |  Audrey 21/10/09
      7.   Could you tell between civilian vs terrorists 17:33  |  Ben Rosen 21/10/09
      8.   This is so stupid 17:52  |  David 21/10/09
      9.   everyone knows that 18:12  |  Dave 21/10/09
      10.   War Crimes? 18:16  |  David 21/10/09
      11.   Naitivity is screeming from this article . 18:20  |  TOMY 21/10/09
      12.   Susanna Morgana 3 18:21  |  ChanahS 21/10/09
      13.   Sophie Long - how convenient! 18:25  |  ChanahS 21/10/09
      14.   Sussana Morgana , counts do not tell the story . 18:27  |  TOMY 21/10/09
      15.   Sussana fuzzy math 18:28  |  Frank 21/10/09
      16.   Morgana justifies murder with math 18:31  |  Frank 21/10/09
      17.   Fair is fair 18:33  |  Adam 21/10/09
      18.   Terrorist are asked to probe acts of terrorism? 18:53  |  Chaim Ben Kahan 21/10/09
      19.   And what of Tali Hatuel and her four children? 18:56  |  Ilan 21/10/09
      20.   When has Israel ever been treated fairly at the UN? 19:01  |  r cummings 21/10/09
      21.   ChanahS 19:05  |  Proud american 21/10/09
      22.   Chaim Ben Kahan 19:07  |  proud american 21/10/09
      23.   Ilan 19:09  |  proud american 21/10/09
      24.   Sussanna is of course right on the money 19:10  |  r cummings 21/10/09
      25.   oh sussana don`t you cry for me 19:12  |  maxcohen 21/10/09
      26.   Proud American is probably not even a citizen 19:18  |  Ilan 21/10/09
      27.   Terrorists are asked to probe acts of terrorism? 19:21  |  r cummings 21/10/09
      28.   Attacks on civilians? 19:22  |  Natallie Durson 21/10/09
      29.   There`s more than one rabid dog on the block 19:31  |  r cummings 21/10/09
      30.   HRW trying to save face 19:36  |  Jon 21/10/09
      31.   can`t believe it - is hrw so naïve? 19:45  |  DISRAELI 21/10/09
      32.   Hypocrites 19:52  |  Jack Olson 21/10/09
      33.   Trailer trash 19:53  |  r cummings 21/10/09
      34.   This is funny 20:06  |  Steve trauben 21/10/09
      35.   #30JO TOOK A HRW WATCH TO GET A BIT OF SENSE 20:10  |  Ian 21/10/09
      36.   Not a single post from Swiss Dino yet...how telling. 20:34  |  flyingdoc57 21/10/09
      37.   Ben Rosen it is documented 20:49  |  Mohammad 21/10/09
      38.   If it wants to save it`s h. . . oh. 20:53  |  Mark Lincoln 21/10/09
      39.   Deaths in Gaza 08:04  |  David 22/10/09
      40.   hard to believe Israel makes Hamas look good 14:45  |  Don Boston 22/10/09
      41.   investigate kidnapping of Gilad Schalit!!! Now! 07:40  |  Miron 23/10/09
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Date Local Jewish Singles
    Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    More Headlines
    08:16 U.S. leaning toward indirect Mideast peace talks
    08:19 Avi Issacharoff / Obama demands may leave Abbas feeling betrayed
    08:22 Aluf Benn / Who decided to go to war in Gaza and why?
    08:37 Gaydamak unlikely to return to Israel for fear of France extradition
    06:22 Envisioning an alternative Egypt, post-Mubarak
    22:38 Katyusha from Lebanon strikes north Israel; no casualties
    22:20 TV ROUND-UP: Katyusha strikes north; Gaydamak convicted of gun-running
    22:13 Deputy FM Ayalon won't cut U.K. trip short, despite arrest threat
    06:34 In Ma'aleh Adumim, Palestinians get no help from Israeli or Jordanian labor laws
    20:44 Israel forms task force to counter Goldstone Gaza report
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Advert: Recommended Restaurants | Makom: Engaging on Israel
    | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved