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U.N. Report Finds Troops May Have Committed War Crimes During Gaza Protests

Source: Haaretz

March 04 2019

Israel

Israeli soldiers intentionally fired at civilians during protests along the Gaza border last year in violation of international law, according to a report by a U.N.-backed independent panel cited by Haaretz (Israel).

The U.N. Independent Commission of Inquiry investigation into the Gaza protests in May 2018 was launched in response to an increase in the number of fatalities among Palestinians in demonstrations along the Israeli border fence.

On Feb. 28, the commission, backed by the U.N. Human Rights Council, presented its findings, stating that 183 Palestinians, including 35 children, were killed by Israeli security forces during protests between March and December 2018. Of those killed, 154 had been unarmed.

A series of videos and descriptions of incidents involving fatalities and injuries were presented. The cases that were examined involved Israeli forces firing directly on children; journalists who were clearly identified as press; and a disabled person in a wheelchair.

The report also noted the death of an Israeli soldier and injuries to several others during the confrontations, reported the Jerusalem Post.

The panel said it found "reasonable grounds" to believe that Israeli forces used lethal force against people who did not pose an immediate threat, violating international law. Some of the violations may qualify as war crimes or crimes against humanity and must be investigated by Israel, said the commission.

The report recommended that member states impose sanctions on those identified as being responsible, as well as submitting the findings to the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

The Israeli government rejected the report, calling it biased. Israel provided no support for the panel's investigation and prevented investigators from entering Gaza.

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