UN group presents Gaza report to Human Rights Council

The Independent Commission of Inquiry's report on the 2014 Gaza conflict, which killed 2,251 Palestinians and 73 Israelis last summer, was presented to members of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) here on Monday.

Headed by Mary McGowan Davis, the commission was mandated in July 2014 by the HRC to examine alleged international human rights and humanitarian law violations taking place between June 13 and August 26, 2014 across the Palestinian territory and in Israel.

"The information we gathered points to serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law by Israel and Palestinian armed groups, in some cases amounting to war crimes," Davis said, adding that "we are concerned that impunity prevails across the board for violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law."

According to the report, over 280 interviews with victims and witnesses were conducted through the use of technology, while testimonies were gathered in Geneva and Amman as the commission was unable to access Israel and the Palestinian territory, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

More than 500 written submissions and other documentation from a range of sources were furthermore investigated.

The report found that 4,881 rockets and 1,753 mortars were launched towards Israel by Palestinian armed groups, and that 32 tunnels had been dug, 14 of which reached beyond the Green Line into Israel (the 1967 Israel-Palestine border).

On the Israeli side, the commission reported 6,000 Israeli airstrikes launched onto residential buildings in Gaza, together with Israeli ground operations and the use of artillery and other explosives in densely populated areas.

Though the Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Eviatar Manor, did not attend the HRC's session, he held a press stakeout shortly after the debate finished.

"The commission of enquiry lacks the expertise in the relevant body of law in the context of the Gaza conflict, namely the Laws of Armed Conflict" he said, adding that "the report fails to comprehend the complexity of urban warfare both on an operational and legal perspective."

He also added that "despite the flaws and bias of the commission of enquiry and its mandate, Israel has announced it will carefully study the report and remains committed to investigating thoroughly, independently, and robustly any allegations of wrongdoing."

Palestinian Ambassador Ibrahim Khraishi criticized the UN for cautioning against the use of what it considered provocative language when Saudi Arabia's ambassador labelled Israel a "racist regime."

A resolution is scheduled to be adopted either on Thursday or Friday this week.

This session is part of the 29th regular session of the HRC which started on June 15 and ends on July 3.