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Israel-Hamas arms embargo urged Israel-Hamas arms embargo urged
(about 2 hours later)
Amnesty International has called for a freeze on arms sales to Israel and Palestinian groups such as Hamas following the recent Gaza conflict.Amnesty International has called for a freeze on arms sales to Israel and Palestinian groups such as Hamas following the recent Gaza conflict.
The human rights group said it had evidence both Israel and Hamas had used weapons sourced from overseas to carry out attacks on civilians.The human rights group said it had evidence both Israel and Hamas had used weapons sourced from overseas to carry out attacks on civilians.
It called for the UN Security Council to impose the embargo on all parties.It called for the UN Security Council to impose the embargo on all parties.
Both Israel and Hamas have rejected the conclusions of the report, in which Amnesty accuses each of war crimes.Both Israel and Hamas have rejected the conclusions of the report, in which Amnesty accuses each of war crimes.
In the report, Israel is accused of illegal use of white phosphorus and other armaments supplied by the US in Gaza, while Hamas is condemned for launching unguided rockets into Israel.In the report, Israel is accused of illegal use of white phosphorus and other armaments supplied by the US in Gaza, while Hamas is condemned for launching unguided rockets into Israel.
[Israeli] attacks resulted in the death of hundreds of children and other civilians and massive destruction of homes and infrastructure Donatella RoveraAmnesty International class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7846970.stm">Israel defends use of phosphorus class="" href="/1/hi/health/7842545.stm">Q&A: White phosphorus injuries Israel has denied the allegations. READ THE AMNESTY BRIEFING
Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC: "The IDF, the Israeli Defence Forces, only use weapons that are in accordance with international law. class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/23_02_09_amnesty.pdf">Amnesty International briefing on arms supplies to Israel and Gaza (2.2Mb) Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you might need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here
"We did not use any such munition as an anti-personnel weapon; we are investigating ourselves." Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev told the BBC that Israel had used white phosphorus but not as an anti-personnel weapon.
White phosphorus, which is used to lay smokescreens, is legal for use on open ground but its use in built-up areas where civilians are found is banned under international conventions. The substance, which is used to lay smokescreens, is legal for use on open ground but its use in built-up areas where civilians are found is banned under international conventions.
Mr Regev also accused Amnesty of basing its report on unsound data supplied by Hamas.
'War crimes''War crimes'
Donatella Rovera, the head of an Amnesty fact-finding mission to southern Israel and Gaza, said: "Israeli forces used white phosphorus and other weapons supplied by the USA to carry out serious violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes.Donatella Rovera, the head of an Amnesty fact-finding mission to southern Israel and Gaza, said: "Israeli forces used white phosphorus and other weapons supplied by the USA to carry out serious violations of international humanitarian law, including war crimes.
Amnesty said the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel was a war crime"Their attacks resulted in the death of hundreds of children and other civilians and massive destruction of homes and infrastructure. [Israeli] attacks resulted in the death of hundreds of children and other civilians and massive destruction of homes and infrastructure Donatella RoveraAmnesty International class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7846970.stm">Israel defends use of phosphorus class="" href="/1/hi/health/7842545.stm">Q&A: White phosphorus injuries
"Their attacks resulted in the death of hundreds of children and other civilians and massive destruction of homes and infrastructure.
"At the same time, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups fired hundreds of rockets that had been smuggled in or made of components from abroad at civilian areas in Israel."At the same time, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups fired hundreds of rockets that had been smuggled in or made of components from abroad at civilian areas in Israel.
"Though far less lethal than the weaponry used by Israel, such rocket firing also constitutes a war crime and caused several civilian deaths.""Though far less lethal than the weaponry used by Israel, such rocket firing also constitutes a war crime and caused several civilian deaths."
The charity's report said it had found fragments and components of artillery, tank shells, fins from mortar rounds and aircraft-launched missiles and bombs in school playgrounds, hospitals and homes in Gaza.The charity's report said it had found fragments and components of artillery, tank shells, fins from mortar rounds and aircraft-launched missiles and bombs in school playgrounds, hospitals and homes in Gaza.
Israel's weaponry predominantly came from the US, the report said.Israel's weaponry predominantly came from the US, the report said.
In southern Israel, meanwhile, the remains of rockets fired indiscriminately at civilian areas by Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups were also recovered, the report said.In southern Israel, meanwhile, the remains of rockets fired indiscriminately at civilian areas by Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups were also recovered, the report said.
'Tainted' report'Tainted' report
Mr Regev told Reuters news agency the Amnesty report was "fundamentally flawed" and "tainted" because it used data provided by Hamas. Mr Regev defended Israeli military tactics in an interview for the BBC's Today programme.
He said Israel made every effort to avoid civilian casualties. Amnesty said the firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel was a war crime
"The report ignores the fact Hamas deliberately used the Palestinian civilian population as a human shield," he told Reuters. "We tried to be as surgical as humanly possible in a difficult combat situation," he said.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called the report "unfair", telling Reuters there was no comparison between the Israeli forces' weaponry and Palestinian "people who defend themselves with some rifles and other primitive means".Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called the report "unfair", telling Reuters there was no comparison between the Israeli forces' weaponry and Palestinian "people who defend themselves with some rifles and other primitive means".
He denied that Hamas had acquired weapons from other countries.He denied that Hamas had acquired weapons from other countries.
Around 1,300 Gazans and 13 Israelis died in 22 days of fighting last month.Around 1,300 Gazans and 13 Israelis died in 22 days of fighting last month.