JERUSALEM // The Israeli prime minister on Sunday criticised an upcoming United Nations report into last year’s war in the Gaza Strip, calling it a waste of time.
Instead, Benjamin Netanyahu said an in-depth Israeli report and another unofficial report, compiled by a group of retired western generals, show “the truth” behind the fighting.
The UN Human Rights Council’s report is expected to be released this week. In anticipation, Israel prepared a report it says proves Hamas’ criminal intentions and exonerates Israel of the war crimes allegations against it.
Both reports that Mr Netanyahu approved of say Israel did its utmost to avoid civilian casualties while Gaza’s Islamic militant Hamas rulers deliberately attacked Israeli civilians while using their own people as human shields.
“Those who want to know the truth should read this report and read the report of the top generals,” Mr Netanyahu told his cabinet.
“Whoever wants a baseless, automatic accusation against Israel can waste their time reading the UN report. As far as we are concerned, we will continue to protect our soldiers and they will continue to protect us.”
Israel says Gaza’s Hamas rulers are responsible for the civilian casualties because it launched attacks from residential areas.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri rejected the Israeli investigation. “The report turns the truth and is valueless because part of these crimes was committed live in front of the cameras, apart from the huge amount of martyrs, wounded and wide destruction that confirm that these crimes were deliberate.”
Palestinians have said that the Israeli army violated the rules of war, which include giving adequate warning to civilians, using proportionate force and distinguishing between civilians and combatants.
In a boost to the Israeli case, the High Level International Military Group – made up of former chiefs of staff, generals and other senior American and European officials who conducted a fact-finding mission – came to similar conclusions.
The Israeli report, released on Sunday said, “Hamas and other terrorist organisations in the Gaza Strip intentionally and systematically used strategies designed to maximise harm to civilian life and property, both in Israel and in the Gaza Strip.”
It said that Hamas and other Palestinian groups used UN facilities, schools, hospitals, mosques, residential buildings, and their immediate vicinity, for military purposes.
Over 2,200 Palestinians, including hundreds of civilians, were killed, while 73 people died on the Israeli side.
* Associated Press
