15 Sep Goldstone Commission Report Released
15.09.09
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17 Comments
You can find all 574 pages of it here. From the press release:
The UN Fact-Finding Mission led by Justice Richard Goldstone on Tuesday released its long-awaited report on the Gaza conflict, in which it concluded there is evidence indicating serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law were committed by Israel during the Gaza conflict, and that Israel committed actions amounting to war crimes, and possibly crimes against humanity.
The report also concludes there is also evidence that Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes, as well as possibly crimes against humanity, in their repeated launching of rockets and mortars into Southern Israel.
More after I’ve had time to look at the report.
the goldstone report is biased.
Hamas is guilty of repeated and deliberate attacks on civilian populations, which, by definition, constitute war crimes. The HRC mandate, however, ignored Hamas terrorist actions, focusing solely on the Israeli reaction.
Donna, the Commission inspected actions of Hamas even though the HRC mandate did not formally ‘allow’ it.
I haven’t read the report, but it is biased in at least one respect: it discusses jus in bello only and ignores jus ad bellum.
By the way, this report – as a whole – isn’t worth a lot. First, the Israeli government refused to cooperate, thereby denying from the Commission relevant evidence. Second, the media reported that Goldstone’s people were escorted by Hamas militants when they interviewed Palestinian witnesses. Violations by Hamas, therefore, were very hard to identify.
This report is is pro – Palestine only.
I agree with donna, Hamas attacked Israeli civilians for many years.
Israel tryed to reach a peace agreement the political way, but it didn’t work.
I think call this report biased is just norm by Israelis and their supporters
What we should look at is the a long treatment of Palestinians as a Human on their land in Gaza West bank, most western independent bodies they speak about the suffering of normal Palestinians under Israeli occupations.
Dona, Olga call this biased then can they tell us why Israeli government refused to cooperate with the Commission?
Then here accusing Hamas that escorting the commission personal when interviewed, so what Israeli fears from make her to refuse cooperation with commission?
This not first time Israeli refused to cooperates with international or UN commissions of investigations a long over years.
In the end human rights violated by both but let be correct the state that call itself the only democracy in ME, should be hold accountable to international concerns so other small players.
Apologies I don’t know what happened with my comment with the garbage in top of it.
Salah, human suffering cannot justify war crimes from either side, and Israeli refusal cannot justify Hamas cover-ups.
According to Dona’s and Olga’s logic, the Palestinians should submit to whatever Israel throws at them whether its napalm bombs, phosphoric bombs, 5000 pound bombs or even if Israel chooses to drop on their heads one of its 200-300 nuclear bombs. There are those who believe that Israel and its citizens are better than and superior to all of humanity. Therefore all of us human beings should accept its violations and aggression; this, in essence, is more like treating Israel’s actions as the will of God.
Guy
Agreed,
in same taken, compare Hamas with a state it is not compatible in matter of forces, resource and effectiveness of violations of human suffering.
Don’t take my world wrong, as I am justifying any kind of inhuman acts, but Hamas control small area and its limited in here power comparing with a state of Israel, also as I mentioned the long history of human suffering under Israeli occupation even Hamas have no control on that part of Palestine.
The point is, that there were dozens of International inquiries into events in the Gaza Operation, and Israel has cooperated fully with almost all of them.
Only in those instances where it seemed clear beyond any doubt that the initiative was motivated by a political agenda and not concern for human rights, did Israel decide not to cooperate.
Unfortunately the Human Rights Council Fact Finding Mission (the “Goldstone Mission”) was one of these.
Ali, how about the palestians, who were killed by Hamas fire, or Hamas ammunition explosion or, Hamas booby traps?
War is war. It is too late, then it has already started. UN should do something before the violence began, but it didn’t.
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The point is, that there were dozens of International inquiries into events in the Gaza Operation, and Israel has cooperated fully with almost all of them.
Only in those instances where it seemed clear beyond any doubt that the initiative was motivated by a political agenda and not concern for human rights, did Israel decide not to cooperate.
I’m sorry, but this is patently false. To my knowledge, the Israelis have only cooperated with their own internal investigation, which *shockingly* denied any wrong doing. HRW, Amnesty and now the UN had no Israeli cooperation.
Well said, Alon. And it’s remarkable how often NGO Monitor’s “debunking” of HRW consists of “the IDF disagrees,” as if the IDF’s investigation of itself — or any military’s self-investigation — can be considered credible.
The Goldstone report is refreshingly unbiased. It blames both parties for war crimes and possible crimes against humanity. Previously Israel would cite sin by the western press as causal factors in them being cited. Israel and Hamas both must understand that civilians must not be targeted and that peace is better maintained when hospitals and essential civilian structures are not systematically attacked. Criminals from both sides must be brought to international tribunals. Only then can peace be given a chance. Israel and Gaza militants must not be allowed to get away with murder.
Olga falsely claims: The point is, that there were dozens of International inquiries into events in the Gaza Operation, and Israel has cooperated fully with almost all of them. Only in those instances where it seemed clear beyond any doubt that the initiative was motivated by a political agenda and not concern for human rights, did Israel decide not to cooperate. Olga, your outrageous pack of lies is so obvious and transparent to anyone halfway informed on the issue that I have to ask why you feel the need to perpetrate falsehoods to defend Israel? Don’t you recognize that your incalcitrant lack of integrity does your cause far more harm than good? Also have you no shame? The only investigations that Israel chose to participate in were internal investigations by the IDF. For reasons that should be obvious to you, such investigations ARE VERY MUCH motivated by a political agenda. The suspect investigated cannot be expected to play judge and jury. Every instance of an impartial third party’s attempt to investigate was met with a refusal by Israel and unfounded claims of bias, as already mentioned HRW, Amnesty, and the UN. Please list these “dozens” of international inquiries where Israel… Read more »
Guys,
A heated issue, I know. But try to be civil…
Elements Ignored by the Report: The Report all but ignores the deliberate terrorist strategy of operating in the heart of densely populated civilian areas which dictated the arena of battle. Even when the Hamas terrorists mixed among civilians, the Report rejects the notion that there was an intention to put the civilian population at risk. Astonishingly, despite the many widely reported instances in the international press of the abuse of civilian facilities by terrorist groups, and the statements of Hamas own leaders praising women and children who acted as human shields, the Report repeatedly stated that it could find no evidence of such activities. This, even despite its admission that those interviewed were “reluctant to speak about the presence or conduct of hostilities by the Palestinian armed groups”. The Report also ignores Israel’s extensive efforts, even in the midst of fighting, to maintain humanitarian standards. While it does, reluctantly, acknowledge Israel’s “significant efforts” to issue warnings before attacks, it does not find any of these efforts to be effective While the Report passes judgment against Israel in respect of almost any allegation, it seeks to absolve the Hamas of almost any wrongdoing. The word “terrorist” is almost entirely absent. Soldier… Read more »