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After Israel’s devastating attack on Gaza last winter, the
UN-commissioned Goldstone fact-finding team and subsequent report
accused both Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes and possible
crimes against humanity. Released in September 2009, the Goldstone
report recommended that both parties conduct impartial, independent
investigations into these accusations within six months, failing which,
the matter would be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

While both parties to the conflict were cited for possible war
crimes, the Goldstone report reserved the majority of its condemnation
for Israel because of the vast difference in casualties on the two sides
— more than 1,400 Palestinians were killed, and 13 Israelis. Four
Israeli civilians were killed by rocket fire from Gaza, while more than
900 unarmed Palestinian civilians, including some 320 children, were
massacred in Gaza.

Submitted to the UN on 29 January, the Israeli government’s response
falls far short of a credible investigation however, and continues
Israel’s long-standing policy of refusal to investigate and convict
those responsible for crimes committed during its military campaigns.

A fundamental flaw of this “investigation” is that Israel has a
military justice system for its armed forces. As stated in the report,
Israel’s Military Advocate General’s Corps ... >>>