Israel rejects UN's endorsement of Gaza war report
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Israel on Friday deplored a UN resolution backing an investigative report highly critical of its winter warfare in the Gaza Strip, saying that the decision flies in the face of the reality.
The Gaza report, compiled by a fact-finding mission commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and led by South African judge Richard Goldstone, accuses both Israel and the Gaza-controlling Palestinian group of Hamas of committing war crimes during the 22-day Gaza conflict.
Following a debate on the hot-button document, a majority of the 192-member United Nations General Assembly voted in favor of an unbinding resolution that calls upon both Israel and the Palestinians to conduct "independent and credible" investigations into alleged war crimes.
In response, Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that "Israel rejects the resolution of the UN General Assembly, which is completely detached from realities on the ground that Israel must face."
The statement reiterated Israel's consistent argument that it has the right for self defense and will continue to act to protect its citizens from "the threat of international terrorism."
Israel insists that it launched the massive offensive in response to eight years of continuous rocket fire from Gaza and to restore peace and security to the south. Over 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were killed during the warfare.
While defying international pressure for an inquiry based on the Goldstone report, Israel said it has been conducting its own investigation into a number of civilian deaths and other incidents during the Gaza warfare, including some listed in the Goldstone report.
Yet it has denied any war crimes or violations of international law.
The UN resolution suggests that if either of the two sides fail to launch a credible investigation, then the matter should be submitted to the powerful Security Council.
