Western reaction
“We note that the Israeli Defence Force has already conducted and is continuing to conduct a number of investigations,” said John Sawers, the British Ambassador to the UN.
“However, concerns remain… We urge the Israeli government to carry out full, credible and impartial investigations into the allegations,” he added.
French Ambassador Gerard Araud urged both sides to initiate “independent inquiries in line with international standards.”
The deputy US Ambassador, Alejandro Wolff, expressed serious concerns about the report – citing an “unbalanced focus on Israel” – but he repeated the US view that Israel should look into it.
“We take the allegations in the report seriously,” he said. “Israel has the institutions and the ability to carry out serious investigations of these allegations and we encourage it to do so.”
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged “credible” investigations by both sides into the conduct of the Gaza conflict “without delay”.
