Israel Covering Up Gaza Crimes: HRW…
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM -– Human Rights Watch on Thursday, April 23, branded Israeli probes into the recent Gaza war as an attempt to covering up Israeli war crimes perpetrated in the densely-populated coastal enclave.
“The conclusions are an apparent attempt to mask violations of the laws of war by Israeli forces in Gaza,” HRW Deputy Director Joe Stork said in a statement.
Israeli deputy army chief Major General Dan Harel claimed on Wednesday, April 22, that five military internal investigations into the 22-day war found “no violations” of international law.
It claimed its troops “operated in accordance with international law” and maintained “high professional and moral level”.
HRW refuted the findings, insisting that its own investigation had showed Israeli forces were responsible for “serious violations of the laws of war.”
It cited the use of heavy artillery and white phosphorus munitions, which can cause severe burns, in densely populated areas, the targeting of civilians and the destruction of civilian property in excess of military need.
HRW researchers in Gaza also found spent white phosphorous artillery shells, canister liners and dozens of burnt felt wedges containing white phosphorus on city streets and apartment roofs, in residential courtyards, and at a UN school.
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