UNITED NATIONS, Geneva – South African judge Richard Goldstone will head an international fact-finding mission into allegations of war crimes by Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in Gaza, the UN said yesterday.
The former war crimes prosecutor will head a four-member team whose mandate stems from a resolution adopted by the UN’s human rights council in January.
Mr Goldstone will investigate conduct by both sides in Israel’s 22-day offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. According to a Palestinian rights group, 1,417 people including 926 civilians were killed in the fighting. Thirteen Israelis also died.
“It is in the interest of all Palestinians and Israelis that the allegations of war crimes and serious human rights violations related to the recent conflict on all sides be investigated,” Mr Goldstone said.
He served as chief prosecutor of the international criminal tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. – (Reuters)