Security
Mideast: UN endorses Gaza 'war crimes' report
New York, 6 Nov. (AKI) - The United Nations General Assembly on Thursday approved a resolution endorsing a recent report that accused both Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas of war crimes. The resolutaion is now expected to be sent to the UN Security Council.
"In three months we will come back to the General Assembly to consider the report of the secretary-general for further action, including in all parts of the United Nations, including in the Security Council," said Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour, quoted by Voice of America.
The resolution supporting the report by South African prosecutor Richard Goldstone passed the UN's largest body with 114 votes in favour to 18 opposed. Forty-four states abstained.
"The results of the vote and the large number of member states who voted against or abstained, demonstrate clearly that the resolution does not have the support of the 'moral majority' of UN members," said a statement in Israel's ministry of foreign affairs website.
"Israel rejects the resolution of the UN General Assembly, which is completely detached from realities on the ground."
The report - widely criticised by Israel and backed by the Palestinians - accused both Israel and the militant Palestinian movement Hamas of committing war crimes during the Israeli army's three-week assault on the Gaza Strip in late December and early January.
Around 1,400 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli offensive, according to rights groups.
Israel, however, puts the death toll at 1,166.
The report said Israel used disproportionate force, deliberately targeting civilians, used Palestinians as human shields and destroyed civilian infrastructure.
The report also said that Palestinian militant groups including the Islamist Hamas had committed war crimes in their rocket attacks against civilians in southern Israel.
During the Israeli offensive, termed 'Operation Cast Lead', more than 50,000 Palestinian homes were destroyed by the Israeli army, as well as 29 mosques, two churches and 200 schools.
The 22-day Israeli military operation, launched with the stated aim of ending Hamas rocket attacks against Israel, killed some 1,400 Palestinians and injured more than 5,400 others, according to UN figures.
Ten Israeli soldiers and three civilians hit by cross-border rocket fire were killed in the conflict.
"In three months we will come back to the General Assembly to consider the report of the secretary-general for further action, including in all parts of the United Nations, including in the Security Council," said Palestinian ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour, quoted by Voice of America.
The resolution supporting the report by South African prosecutor Richard Goldstone passed the UN's largest body with 114 votes in favour to 18 opposed. Forty-four states abstained.
"The results of the vote and the large number of member states who voted against or abstained, demonstrate clearly that the resolution does not have the support of the 'moral majority' of UN members," said a statement in Israel's ministry of foreign affairs website.
"Israel rejects the resolution of the UN General Assembly, which is completely detached from realities on the ground."
The report - widely criticised by Israel and backed by the Palestinians - accused both Israel and the militant Palestinian movement Hamas of committing war crimes during the Israeli army's three-week assault on the Gaza Strip in late December and early January.
Around 1,400 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli offensive, according to rights groups.
Israel, however, puts the death toll at 1,166.
The report said Israel used disproportionate force, deliberately targeting civilians, used Palestinians as human shields and destroyed civilian infrastructure.
The report also said that Palestinian militant groups including the Islamist Hamas had committed war crimes in their rocket attacks against civilians in southern Israel.
During the Israeli offensive, termed 'Operation Cast Lead', more than 50,000 Palestinian homes were destroyed by the Israeli army, as well as 29 mosques, two churches and 200 schools.
The 22-day Israeli military operation, launched with the stated aim of ending Hamas rocket attacks against Israel, killed some 1,400 Palestinians and injured more than 5,400 others, according to UN figures.
Ten Israeli soldiers and three civilians hit by cross-border rocket fire were killed in the conflict.
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