Brussels, 11/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - The independent fact-finding committee on Gaza, created in February 2009 after the Israeli invasion of December 2008, presented its mission report in Brussels on Tuesday 9 June. The report was signed by well-known personalities specialised in international and humanitarian law, and openly recommends referral to the International Court of Justice. The committee considers in its conclusions that the Israeli military offensive in Gaza is in line with conditions set for establishing an accusation of crimes against humanity against Israel. Hamas has not been cleared of all blame but its responsibility is considered to be less. However, although Israel as a state cannot be accused of genocide, those in charge of operations on the ground could be deemed responsible given their brutality under the influence of Rabbis who had encouraged them to believe that the “Holy Land should be cleansed of non-Jews”.
The committee, which is headed by South African Professor John Dugard who, although white, is known for his fight against apartheid, is composed of Professor Paul de Waart (Netherlands), Judge Finn Lynghjem (Norway), a Chilean lawyer specialised in international conflicts, Gonzalo Boye, Professor Francisco Corte-Real (Portugal) and Ms Raelene Sharp, a lawyer from Australia.
The main findings of their investigations and interviews with all parties were that: - there was substantial destruction of and damage to property and people during the offensive. “Over 3,000 homes were destroyed and over 11,000 damaged; 215 factories and 700 private businesses were seriously damaged or destroyed; 15 hospitals and 43 primary health care centres were destroyed or damaged; 28 government buildings and 60 police stations were destroyed or damaged; 30 mosques were destroyed and 28 damaged; 10 schools were destroyed and 168 damaged; three universities/colleges were destroyed and 14 damaged; and 53 United Nations properties were damaged”, the report states. It also points out that it was evident the Israeli armed forces did not make any distinction between civilian targets and the population and military targets during their offensive, as this would not have served their movement on the ground. The report refutes the Israeli argument whereby the civilian population was warned by text message of imminent operations, inviting them to leave the combat zone. The report sets out in detail, point by point, the basic elements which should allow a judgement to be made on the gravity of the facts. The full document can be downloaded from the Arab League website. (F.B./transl.jl)