US Weapons 'Misused in Gaza'Al Jazeera
February 23, 2009
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/02/2009223417264834.htmlAmnesty International has released a report describing the misuse of US
weapons by Israel during its 22-day war on the Gaza Strip.
The human rights organisation called on the UN on Monday to launch an
immediate investigation into allegations of war crimes by Israel and Hamas
during the conflict last month.
"Israeli forces used white phosphorus and other weapons supplied by the USA
to carry out serious violations of international humanitarian law,
including war crimes," Donatella Rovera, who led the investigation for
Amnesty International (AI), said.
"Their attacks resulted in the death of hundreds of children and other
civilians, and massive destruction of homes and infrastructure."
The report said fragments and components of artillery, tank shells, mortar
fins and airborne missiles and bombs in school playgrounds, hospitals and
homes in Gaza.
Rovera also condemned armed Palestinian groups for firing hundreds of
rockets at civilian areas in Israel.
"Though far less lethal than the weaponry used by Israel, such rocket
firing also constitutes a war crime and caused several civilian deaths,"
she said.
Embargo Urged
AI is appealing to the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo on
Israel, Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups in the territory.
"In addition, all states should suspend all transfers of military
equipment, assistance and munitions to Israel, Hamas and other Palestinian
armed groups until there is no longer a substantial risk of human rights
violations," Malcolm Smart, AI's Middle East director, said.
AI specifically called on the US to stop supplying Israel with arms it said
were used in the killing of civilians in Gaza.
Israel receives $3bn a year in military aid from Washington.
Mark Regev, the spokesman for Ehud Olmert, Israel's prime minister, said
the country had not officially received Amnesty's report.
He said it seemed to be "fundamentally flawed and methodologically
unsound".
Regev said Israel's military only uses weapons accepted under international
law.
The war in Gaza ended on January 18 after both sides announced they would
hold fire, but not before more than 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis were
killed.
Sporadic rocket fire into Israel and air raids on Gaza have punctuated the
period since the war.
Gaza and Israel have so far failed to reach an agreement through Egyptian
mediation on a long-term ceasefire and the end to a nearly 20-month
economic lockdown of the Palestinian territory.
