Israel Slams Unhrc Decision On Gaza Probe

The Israeli government has slammed a decision by U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to launch a commission of inquiry into alleged Israeli war crimes during its ongoing military offensive against the Gaza Strip.



"The decision today by the UNHRC is a travesty and should be rejected by decent people everywhere," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement.



"Rather than investigate Hamas, which is committing a double war crime by firing rockets at Israeli civilians while hiding behind Palestinian civilians, the UNHRC calls for an investigation of Israel," the statement said.



The release claimed that the Israeli army "has gone to unprecedented lengths to keep Palestinian civilians out of harm's way, including by dropping leaflets, making phone calls and sending text messages."



"By failing to condemn Hamas's systematic use of human shields and by blaming Israel for the deaths that are caused by this grotesque human shields policy, the UNHRC is sending a  message to Hamas and terror organizations everywhere that using civilians as human shields is an effective strategy," Netanyahu's office added.



The UNHRC agreed Wednesday to establish an independent commission of inquiry into breaches of human rights and international law against the people of Gaza during Israel's latest military offensive.



"There seems to be a strong possibility that international law has been violated, in a manner that could amount to war crimes," Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said at a special session at the UNHRC in Geneva, adding that Israel had not done enough to protect civilians.



The killing of civilians in Gaza including 147 children over the past 16 days raises concerns about respect for the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in Israeli attacks, she said.



"Only those responsible for criminal acts could legitimately be punished," Pillay stressed, adding that individuals should not be subject to collective penalties. 



Since July 7, Israel has pummeled the Gaza Strip with fierce air and naval bombardments with the ostensible aim of halting Palestinian rocket fire.



Last week, Israel stepped up its offensive to include ground operations, sending thousands of troops into the embattled coastal enclave.



Israel's offensive has left at least 701 Palestinians dead – mostly civilians.



At least 34 Israelis, including 32 soldiers, have also been killed since hostilities began.



Israel's ongoing "Operation Protective Edge" is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populated Gaza Strip, which is home to some 1.8 million Palestinians, within the last six years.



In 2008/9, over 1500 Palestinians – the vast majority of them civilians – were killed in Israel's three-week-long "Operation Cast Lead."



By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout



englishnews@aa.com.tr



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