Amnesty International (UK). Gaza: Inquiry recommendations must be implemented
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The UN Security Council has a duty to ensure that the victims of the Gaza conflict receive due justice, reparation and that the perpetrators don't get away with murder.
Despite powerful evidence of war crimes and other serious violations of international law, both Israel and Hamas have failed to carry out credible investigations and prosecute those responsible.
The Security Council must refer the Goldstone findings to the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor if Israel and Hamas do not carry out credible investigations within a set period.
Update 5 October 2009
Amnesty International is now calling for the UN Secretary-General to refer the report to the UN Security Council without delay.
Last week the UN Human Rights Council met in Geneva to discuss the
findings and recommendations of the report of Judge Richard Goldstone's
Fact-Finding Mission into violations of international law that occurred
during the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel between 27 December
2008 and 18 January 2009.
Amnesty International expresses regret and dismay that, by taking a
decision on 2 October 2009 to defer a vote on the Goldstone report
until March 2010, the Human Rights Council, which the UK Government is
an active member of, has failed to take immediate steps to implement
the Goldstone report recommendations.
This deferral indicates a lack of political will to deal robustly
with issues of accountability for violations of international
humanitarian law and human rights law in Gaza and southern Israel and a
slap in the face to those still suffering after the conflict.
However, this deferral provides both the Israeli government and the
Hamas de facto administration in Gaza with one last opportunity to
conduct independent investigations, meeting international standards,
into violations that took place during the conflict.
Please continue to call on the UK to support the Goldstone recommendations. It provides an historic opportunity to bring accountability for grave human rights abuses and international law in Gaza and southern Israel - we must not miss it.
- Read the UN's full report
- Read Amnesty's report
- Take action - Ask David Miliband to support the Goldstone recommendations
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