Gaza War Crimes Report Sparks Conflict

A controversial report about last winter’s war in Gaza, generated by the United Nations and headed up by South African Judge Richard Goldstone, was the subject of debate at the U.N. Security Council Wednesday, largely owing to the fact that the report accuses both Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes.  —KA

The Wall Street Journal:

Gazan authorities were accused of firing rockets indiscriminately at Israeli civilians. Israel says it launched Operation Cast Lead to stop the rocket fire, which killed three Israeli civilians.

“I regret to say that the Goldstone report is one-sided, biased and therefore wrong,” said Gabriela Shalev, Israel’s U.N. ambassador. “The report favors and legitimizes terrorism. It denies Israel’s right to defend its citizens.”

Riad al-Malki, the Palestinian Authority foreign minister, said the U.N. report “constitutes another damning record of the Israeli crimes committed against our people … and the recommendations represent a significant contribution towards the pursuit of accountability and justice.”

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AP / Khaled Omar

Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building in the Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, destroyed in Israel’s military onslaught during last winter’s war.