The delegation of the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) and the International Federation of Human Rights have announced that the Israeli occupation authorities denied them access to the Gaza Strip, confirming that they received a letter from the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert denying that the Israeli army committed war crimes against humanity during its operations in Gaza. During a news conference at the Cairo Center for Human Rights Studies, the 11-strong delegation has warned that the reconstruction of Gaza now would hide the evidence, which confirms Israel's crimes against the Gazans.
Executive Director of the EMHRN Marc Paulson said an official with the Israeli Foreign Ministry told the delegation during its visit to Tel Aviv that Israel will form an internal fact-finding committee in case such accusations proved to be true on the lines of what happened after Sabra and Shatila massacre. The EMHRN and several European non-governmental organizations are still demanding the European Union to suspend its relationship with Israel for its crimes against the Palestinian civilians in Gaza, Paulson said. Paulson has called on the European Union to set up a fact-finding commission, expressing his disappointment and deep frustration over statements of the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, which was attended by a number of European presidents who had dinner with the Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Israel without any condemnation to the violations perpetrated by the Israeli army against civilians.
In response to a question by Al-Masry Al-Youm on the reasons for Israel's refusal to allow the delegation to visit Gaza, Paulson said: We have asked permission from the Israeli authorities, but Olmert has sent a letter confirming that there was no humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Therefore, we have been stunned and shocked. Israel denied us access to Gaza lest the media would document the crimes committed.
Vice-President of the International Federation of Human Rights said the mission aims to coordinate with human rights organizations in Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza to form a fact-finding commission.
The delegation has received information and reports proving that Israel committed war crimes and used banned weapons including the white phosphorous against densely populated areas of civilians. In addition, Israel targeted certain buildings under the pretext that they belong to Hamas, but, in fact, the number of children who were killed in the Gaza Strip surpasses that of Hamas members. It is important and necessary to document these crimes so that the Israeli officials would be brought to account through other mechanisms "If we failed in the international criminal tribunals," she said.
A former Swedish diplomat and professor of international law said the criminals of war should not evade punishment in the framework of the principles of accountability in war crimes. "We are very pessimistic because the Israeli courts do not punish the Israeli soldiers for committing war of crimes. The international public opinion and the European Union should push the UN Human Rights Council to take serious steps to bring Israel to account.
Hafez Abu Seada, Secretary-General of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, criticized Israel for targeting the UN headquarters and organizations in Gaza, adding: "We must convince the Arab world of the legitimacy of the international criminal courts regardless of the nationality or post of the crimes' perpetrators."
Mu'taz Al-Fujiri, executive director of Cairo Center for Human Rights Studies said the aim of the delegation's visit is to form an international coalition to stop the conflict in Gaza, provide a mechanism for protecting the civilians, achieve justice and bring the criminals to account.
