Impunity for war crimes in Gaza and southern Israel a recipe for further civilian suffering
2 July 2009
Israeli forces killed hundreds of unarmed Palestinian civilians and destroyed thousands of homes in Gaza in attacks which breached the laws of war, Amnesty International concluded in a new report published on Thursday. Operation ‘Cast Lead’: 22 days of death and destruction, is the first comprehensive report to be published on the conflict, which took place earlier this year.
“Israel’s failure to properly investigate its forces’ conduct in Gaza, including war crimes, and its continuing refusal to cooperate with the UN international independent fact-finding mission headed by Richard Goldstone, is evidence of its intention to avoid public scrutiny and accountability,” said Donatella Rovera, who headed a field research mission to Gaza and southern Israel during and after the conflict.
“The international community, led by the UN Security Council, must use all its leverage to ensure that Israel cooperates fully with the Goldstone inquiry, which now offers the best means to establish the truth.”
The Amnesty International report documents Israel’s use of battlefield weapons against a civilian population trapped in Gaza, with no means of escape and is based on evidence gathered by Amnesty International delegates, including a military expert, during field research in January and February.
Israel/Gaza: Operation “Cast Lead”: 22 days of death and destruction
Index Number: MDE 15/015/2009
Date Published: 2 July 2009
P U L S E 
Funny, people are commenting on a report that is not yet available to the public. All that is available is AI’s summary/overview. [editor: its up now: see link to pdf in post]
AI is a compromised organization, and it is difficult to understand why people persist in quoting its silly ruminations.
[One could argue the same about the UN. Their reports are still very important and they both contain individuals of conscience, whatever their shortcomings as organisations]
Well it is so nice to have my comments commented upon inline — has this been done for other comments?
First, AI published its silly summary a few days before releasing the final “report”. And then whoever decided to comment on my observation regarding AI doesnt seem to have a clue about the nature of AI — it is a crummy organization.
That’s mighty gracious of you, Paul … ! Yes, other comments have occasionally been responded to in-line, at least by me. Even if I didn’t disagree with you about AI, I do think this report is still newsworthy — in fact sometimes, it can be a weathervane for just how bad things are in Palestine that orgs like AI are finally releasing more strongly-worded and accurate reports, just as op-eds in the NYT can be a yardstick for if and how official policy has changed.
This relevant discussion might interest you.
cheers
Ann
ADDENDUM
Paul has provided some excellent references on AI which merit sharing:
1. Interview with Prof. Francis Boyle (prof. international law, author,
and former member of AI International Board of Directors)
http://www.corkpsc.org/db.php?aid=4573
Written by Paul:
2. http://www.corkpsc.org/db.php?aid=652
3. http://www.corkpsc.org/db.php?aid=4850
4. http://www.corkpsc.org/db.php?aid=9291