Accountability for "Operation Cast Lead" in Gaza

14/03/2012

During Israel's three-week offensive on Gaza code-named "Operation Cast Lead" from 27 December 2008 to 18 January 2009, at least 1,440 Palestinians were killed, including 431 children and 114 women. The UN Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict ("the Goldstone Commission") was mandated by the UN Human Rights Council on 3 April 2009 to investigate all violations of international law committed in the context of hte war, and issued its report on 15 September 2009.

During Israel's three-week offensive on Gaza code-named "Operation Cast Lead" from 27 December 2008 to 18 January 2009, at least 1,440 Palestinians were killed, including 431 children and 114 women. Over 5,300 Palestinians were injured and an estimated 22,000 buildings were completely destroyed or badly damaged, including 4,230 destroyed homes. The level of devastation was unprecedented, and has greatly exacerbated the already grave humanitarian situation resulting from Israel's ongoing blockade of Gaza, in place since June 2007, and its prevention of reconstruction aid to Gaza.

The UN Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict ("the Goldstone Commission") was mandated by the UN Human Rights Council on 3 April 2009 to investigate all violations of international law committed in the context of hte war, and issued its report on 15 September 2009.

Response to Goldstone

Statement by HR NGOs in Israel in Response to Goldstone Op-Ed

Open letter to Richard Goldstone from 11 Palestinian Human Rights Organisations, 6.4.2011

Prof. John Dugard Responds to Goldstone, "Where now for the Goldstone report?" The New Statesman, 6.4.2011

FIDH & EMHRN: Goldstone’s Washington Post op-ed: No basis to deny justice to victims of the Gaza War, 8.4.2011

Members of the UN Fact-Finding Committee, Hina Jilani, Prof. Christine Chinkins and Colonel Desmond Travers, Respond to Goldstone, The Guardian, 14.4.2011

European Parliament adopts resolution on Goldstone, 11.3.2010

UN Resolution, adopted on 23 February 2010, on follow-up to the Goldstone report

Breakdown of the Vote on UN Resolution adopted on 23 February 2010

NGO Joint Statement to UN Human Rights Council session in March 2010: Use all tools to ensure accountability for the victims of the War on Gaza, 17.2.2010

Amnesty International: Ban Ki-moon 'misses opportunity' on Gaza accountability, 5.2.2010

PCHR expresses grave concern regarding credibility of investigations carried out in response to recommendations of the Goldstone report, 5.2.2010

Adalah Briefing Paper: Israeli military probes and investigations fail to meet international standards or ensure accountability for victims of the War on Gaza

Letter sent to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by human rights organizations based in Israel calling for an independent and impartial investigation mechanism into violations of international law during Operation Cast Lead

Letters sent to President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh by Palestinian human rights organizations calling for internal investigations into violations of international law by Palestinian armed groups and the Palestinian authorities during the attacks