U.N. Chief Demands Probe Of Israeli Shelling

NPR.org, January 20, 2009 · On a visit to Gaza Tuesday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon demanded a full investigation into the Israeli shelling of three U.N. buildings in the Gaza Strip.

The U.N. chief — a critic of many of Israel's recent actions — saw first-hand the destruction of three weeks of heavy fighting between Israel and Hamas.

During the offensive, Israeli shells struck the U.N. headquarters in Gaza as well as two U.N. schools. The attacks heavily damaged the headquarters and killed nearly 40 people near one of the schools.

Ban called the attacks "outrageous" and demanded a "full investigation" through proper judiciary systems. He also demanded guarantees it would never happen again.

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"The IDF's Judge Advocate General is investigating the alleged use of phosphorous shells during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip.

The probe was launched at the instruction of Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and its findings will be released to the public."

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of chicken feathers in the area of his mouth does not equate to an improperly acquired meal :sarcasm:

:thumbsup:

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"EIGHT Israeli human rights groups came together today to demand the state investigate the army's behaviour in the deadly 22-day assault on the Gaza Strip.

They urged prosecutor general Menachem Mazuz, who is also the government legal adviser, to act "given the scale of the casualties among the civilian population during Operation Cast Lead".

They said the numbers of children and women killed were terrifying.

It quoted Palestinian health ministry figures listing more than 1300 people dead, including 410 children and about 100 women.

Another 5300 were wounded - 1855 of them children and 795 women.

"The rules of war seem to have been held in total contempt forcing Israel to open an independent inquiry immediately," the groups said.

"We call on the government legal adviser to act now to set up a mechanism for independent investigation."

The activists include B'tselem, the main Israeli rights body covering the occupied territories, Doctors for Human Rights, There is Justice and the Public Committee against Torture."

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