UN urged to hold full Gaza inquiry

A NUMBER of the world’s best-known pioneers for peace and justice have demanded that the UN carry out a full-scale investigation into allegations of war crimes during the latest Gaza war.

In an open letter to the UN titled “Find the truth about the Gaza war”, world figures — including South Africa’s Dr Desmond Tutu and former Irish president and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson — have said this investigation is essential.

“The events in Gaza have shocked us to the core. Relief and reconstruction are desperately needed but, for the real wounds to heal, we must also establish the truth about crimes perpetuated against civilians on both sides”, the letter says.

If they find sufficient evidence they should recommend prosecution of those responsible, the letter says.

The UN Board of Inquiry is due to report its initial findings on an Israeli attack on UN buildings and personnel in Gaza in January.

The signatories say a more wide-scale investigation is needed into all serious violations of international humanitarian law committed by all parties to the conflict.

The signatories have led investigations into crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Darfur, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, East Timor, Lebanon and Peru.

A second Irish person, Desmond Travers, director at the Institute for International Criminal Investigations based in The Hague, is also among the signatories.

The letter comes as the Gaza death toll has been increased to 1,434 people, 960 of them civilians and up to 300 of them children.