World powers must hold Israel accountable: U.N. rights boss

 

By Stephanie Nebe  

GENEVA (Reuters) - The top U.N. human rights official said on Thursday she believed Israel was deliberately defying international law in its military offensive in Gaza and that world powers should hold it accountable for possible war crimes.

Israel has attacked homes, schools, hospitals, Gaza's only power plant and U.N. premises in apparent violation of the Geneva Conventions, according to Navi Pillay, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"Therefore I would say that they appear to be defying... deliberate defiance of obligations that international law imposes on Israel," Pillay told a news briefing.

"This is why again and again I say we cannot allow impunity, we cannot allow this lack of accountability to go on."

Hamas militants in Gaza have also violated international humanitarian law by firing rockets indiscriminately into Israel, Pillay said.

She also criticised the United States, Israel's main ally, for failing to use its influence with the Jewish state to halt the carnage.

"Many of my remarks have been directed to the United States since they are a party with influence over Israel to do much more to stop the killing, to bring the parties to the negotiating table. I've called also for an end to the (Israeli) blockade (of Gaza)..."

Pillay said she was appalled at Washington consistently voting against resolutions on Israel and the territories in the Human Rights Council, General Assembly and Security Council.

"They have not only provided the heavy weaponry which is now being used by Israel in Gaza but they've also provided almost $1 billion in providing the 'Iron Domes' to protect the Israelis from rocket attacks," she said. "But no such protection has been provided to Gazans against the shelling."

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(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay, Editing by Angus MacSwan)

http://news.yahoo.com/world-powers-must-hold-israel-accountable-u-n-121613526.html