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| U.N. Official Cites ‘Strong Possibility’ of War Crimes in Gaza Conflict | U.N. Official Cites ‘Strong Possibility’ of War Crimes in Gaza Conflict |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| GENEVA — The United Nations’ top human rights official, Navi Pillay, said Wednesday that there was a “strong possibility” that Israel and Hamas have committed war crimes with indiscriminate attacks on civilians during more than two weeks of fighting with militants in Gaza. | GENEVA — The United Nations’ top human rights official, Navi Pillay, said Wednesday that there was a “strong possibility” that Israel and Hamas have committed war crimes with indiscriminate attacks on civilians during more than two weeks of fighting with militants in Gaza. |
| Opening a special session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Ms. Pillay called for an investigation and accountability to end the cycle of violence. | Opening a special session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Ms. Pillay called for an investigation and accountability to end the cycle of violence. |
| Ms. Pillay cited Israeli airstrikes on civilian homes in Gaza and the shelling of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital two days ago, which killed four people, as examples of actions that suggest “a strong possibility that international humanitarian law has been violated in a manner that could amount to war crimes.” | Ms. Pillay cited Israeli airstrikes on civilian homes in Gaza and the shelling of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital two days ago, which killed four people, as examples of actions that suggest “a strong possibility that international humanitarian law has been violated in a manner that could amount to war crimes.” |
| She also condemned Hamas and other militant groups for attacks on Israeli civilians. And she said it was unacceptable to place military assets in densely populated areas or to launch attacks from then. “The principles of distinction and precaution are clearly not being observed by such indiscriminate attacks on civilians by Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups,” she said. | |
| “The actions of one party do not absolve the other party of the need to respect its obligations under international law,” said Ms. Pillay, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights. | “The actions of one party do not absolve the other party of the need to respect its obligations under international law,” said Ms. Pillay, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights. |
| Nearly 650 Palestinians have been killed so far in the conflict, about three-quarters of them civilians. Those figures, she said, belied Israel’s claim that it had taken all necessary precautions to protect civilians. | Nearly 650 Palestinians have been killed so far in the conflict, about three-quarters of them civilians. Those figures, she said, belied Israel’s claim that it had taken all necessary precautions to protect civilians. |
| Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Eviatar Manor, criticized what he said was the council’s “ritual of naming and shaming Israel.” | Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Eviatar Manor, criticized what he said was the council’s “ritual of naming and shaming Israel.” |
| “There can be no moral symmetry between a terrorist aggressor and a democracy defending itself,” he said. | “There can be no moral symmetry between a terrorist aggressor and a democracy defending itself,” he said. |
| In a comment directed at Ms. Pillay, he added, “In the protection of the human rights of Israelis, this council and you, madam, have failed dismally.” | In a comment directed at Ms. Pillay, he added, “In the protection of the human rights of Israelis, this council and you, madam, have failed dismally.” |
| Riad Maliki, the foreign minister for the Palestinian Authority, said that Israel had enjoyed an impunity that had “given rise to a legal void.” If that continues, he said, “the credibility of the U.N., the international community and the human rights system will be jeopardized.” | Riad Maliki, the foreign minister for the Palestinian Authority, said that Israel had enjoyed an impunity that had “given rise to a legal void.” If that continues, he said, “the credibility of the U.N., the international community and the human rights system will be jeopardized.” |
| The 47-member council was due to vote later on a Palestinian resolution calling on for an international commission of inquiry appointed by the council’s president to investigate all human rights violations in Gaza and the West Bank. | The 47-member council was due to vote later on a Palestinian resolution calling on for an international commission of inquiry appointed by the council’s president to investigate all human rights violations in Gaza and the West Bank. |