UN rights chief Navi Pillay
Russia Today: Israel maybe committing war crimes in Gaza, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights says. Speaking in Geneva, Navi Pillay said house demolitions and the killing of children raise the “strong possibility” that Israel is violating international law.
Opening an emergency debate at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, she citied cases of Israeli air strikes and shelling hitting houses and hospitals in the coastal enclave: “These are just a few examples where there seems to be a strong possibility that international humanitarian law has been violated, in a manner that could amount to war crimes,” she said.
She hit out at both sides concerning their conduct during the conflict, which is now in its 16th day, having started on July 8. Some 643 Palestinians, many of them children and civilians have died in the conflict, including a seven-year-old hit by a shell in southern Gaza early on Wednesday, Reuters reports.
Categories: Brutality, Europe and Australia, Gaza, Human Rights, Israel, Palestine, War crimes
Quoting BBC
The UN’s top human rights official has condemned Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip, saying that war crimes may have been committed.
Navi Pillay told an emergency debate at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that Israel’s military offensive had not done enough to protect civilians.
She also condemned Hamas for “indiscriminate attacks” on Israel.
Israel launched its offensive on 8 July with the declared objective of stopping rocket fire from Gaza.
“There seems to be a strong possibility that international law has been violated, in a manner that could amount to war crimes,” Ms Pillay said.
However Israel, which claims the UN Human Rights Council is biased, is unlikely to co-operate with any authorised UN investigation, the BBC’s Imogen Foulkes in Geneva reports.
Israel’s Justice Minister Tzipi Livni described the UN Human Rights Council as an “anti-Israel” body, Reuters news agency reported.
‘Heart-wrenching split’
At least 649 Palestinians and 31 Israelis have been killed in the past 15 days of fighting, officials say.
A foreign worker in southern Israel was also killed by a rocket fired from Gaza on Wednesday, police said.
The UN says about 74% of those killed in Gaza are civilians, with medical clinics among the facilities hit by air strikes.
“Civilians in Gaza have no safe place to go as 44% of the land has been declared a ‘no-go zone’ by the Israeli army,” the assistant secretary-general at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said.
“Families are taking the heart-wrenching decision to split to different locations – mother and son to one; father and daughter to another – hoping to maximise the chance one part of the family survives.”
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28437626?ocid=global_bbccom_email_23072014_top+news+stories
Israelis do not need to worry. The International Criminal Court is only interested in African war lords. (and a couple of Europeans). Main point only losers are persecuted. (Serbia, African war lords)
Statements like these have been made several times before as well but nothing comes of them. As Rafiq sahib points out, only losers are brought to account.
God alone can stop these bullies, but unfortunately the Palestinians may not be doing their part to invite His help. I hope they soon recognize and believe in the Messiah God has sent as promised, as that alone is now their salvation.
It is sheer miracle of God that living in countries with staunch opposition to the Jamaat, and where the governments and the judiciary condone and support persecution of Ahmadies, and despite the enemy’s best efforts the damage done is not only on a much smaller scale, but each incident of persecution makes the community stronger and advances it further. It is because of the guidance received by the Khalifa of the time and God’s help.
whereas everywhere in the developing world Muslims are being killed and killing each other and going deeper into despair. They should reflect if that is how God would leave them if He was happy with them.
Israel is a tyrant when it comes to Palestinians, no question about it. But they didn’t accept the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Those who did should reflect more on the choices they are making.
Hamas hides missiles in elementary schools, transfers rocket launchers in ambulances with children in it and hides behind civilians. Israel is 100% innocent of killing any civilian because Hamas has enlisted the entire Gaza population in the hate crime of wanting to kill all Jews. This is transparently obvious to any who has watched Hamas and Iran over the past 30 years. Hamas is the one an only war criminal in today’s world.
and it is ok to kill 600+ (mostly women and children) as a revenge for 3 ?
Let us not forget the original problem while discussing the current situation. The fact is that Israel is an occupying aggressive force, building settlements on land that does not belong to them, with one of the most sophisticated military machines in the world. It is turning Gaza into an Aushwitz forgetting its own history. What it is doing in Gaza will only strengthen Hamas.
How blind Ed can be. 600+ killed versus 30. That is not even ‘an eye for an eye’ … And if Ed was locked in for decades and humiliated on a daily basis how would he react?
Surely you are joking. You know it is Hamas that is guilty of inhumane actions.
First they lob rockets at civilian centers in Israel and then they use Arab women and children as shields.
amazing how you are following Israeli propaganda so easily. Yes, Hamas is militant, but would you not be if you were locked up for decades? no freedom of movement, no open port, no open airport, no free trade? Humiliation by occupation youngsters on a daily basis?
These Israelis are committing the worst crimes than those committed by the Nazis against them and for far longer, thanks to the complacent and very unjust International bodies who seem to be totally ‘helpless’ and ‘toothless’.
And one cannot even call it tit for tat since it was not the Palestinians who were guilty for the holocaust. In fact, there are reports that the Arabs helped the Jews by shielding them from persecution.
They seem to think that they are still God’s Chosen people and therefore immune to His Wrath!!!
Fortunately, they are no longer any of the above and very soon (time is relative), going to be answering for their War Crimes……, Insha’Allah.
You know what? I do not watch any news about this or earlier wars between Israel and Palestine (Hamas)anymore. Reason, the docility and unfairness of the International Community when it comes to Israel’s aggression are frightening. How would you be killing a fly with a sledge hammer. That is what Israel does all the time.
Apparently, the God of Netanyahu and his cohorts, is not The Almighty, Peaceful, Fair and Just God we all know and who The Talmud preaches. On the contrary, their god is unfair, blood thirsty and crude.
The fact is, both Countries need to learn how to live together with all their respects intact and ability to move freely without any form of blockage.
Hoping Israel will be made to account for her extremism one (nigh) day.
And, as said, Hamas/Palestine recognise their Imam of the Time and hearken towards him.
Judaism, like Christianity and Islam, bases its spirituality in human compassion:
Grand Scale Hypocrisy
The Zionists and their close allies in Pentagon/Washington are joyfully flying their false flags. So, the descendants of the Abused of Nazi Germany are now the Abusers of the Palestinians. But, how about the ongoing repressions and abuses of Muslims and Non-Muslims by Muslims in the so-called Muslim lands.
It’s high time for the Muslim World to get rid of its grand scale hypocrisy, to go back to The Noble Qur’an, hence to step forward.
Al-Islam stands for continual CHANGE within The Noble Qur’an’s demands. It’s fluid and dynamic. The so-called Muslim World has to get rid of its Deaf, Dumb and Blind mind set, and step into the 21st century. The Educated Class has to lead The Change, conducive to Knowledge , Ethics, Justice, Harmony in Diversity, Peace in The Muslim World, and beyond.
The quiet majority among the Muslims must have no qualms to denounce the rhetoric of hate and deadly mind set of those who call themselves Muslims.
It should be repeated, again and again, that THE ONE and ONLY GIVER of KNOWLEDGE – THE ONE and ONLY PERFECT WHO IS THE MOST GRACIOUS AND MOST MERCIFUL decrees for the Socio-Economic Welfare of HIS creatures, besides showing Respect to the flora and the fauna. It isn’t Utopia, but CHANGE for Man’s well-being on this Splendid Planet. So, it’s up to the The Muslim World to renew its commitments to THE CREATOR’S WILL. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) actualised The Noble Qur’ans demands as certified by THE ALMIGHTY: ” Ye have indeed in The Apostle of GOD the Most Excellent Example” 33:21
Anti-Semitism, Ignorance, Islamophobia, Poverty must have no place in any Enlightened Society.
Umar Solim – England