Amnesty International Issues Report Accusing Israel of War Crimes

Amnesty International (winner of the Nobel Peace Prize) has issued a 430-page report accusing both Israel and Hamas of war crimes. While few have any illusions about Hamas and its violation of international law, the accusations against Israel are quite damaging and join those of the United Nations investigation by the Goldstone Commission.

The report confirms war crimes allegations during Operation Cast Lead, as well as its treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank. During the operations, the report concludes, “[a]mong other things, they carried out indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks against civilians, targeted and killed medical staff, used Palestinian civilians as ‘human shields’ and indiscriminately fired white phosphorus over densely populated residential areas.” Israel is also accused of maintaining an “illegal blockade” — a growing controversy with countries like Turkey this week demanding that its humanitarian shipments to Gaza be allowed through the blockade, here.
The report states that “[t]he restrictions included a military blockade of the Gaza Strip, which effectively imprisoned the 1.5 million residents and resulted in a humanitarian crisis.

Here is the full report on all countries, including Israel: AmenstyReport

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