**UN chief Ban Ki-moon has urged “credible” investigations by Israel and the Palestinians into allegations of war crimes during the Gaza conflict.**The plea was conveyed by Undersecretary General Lynn Pascoe during a Security Council debate on the Middle East.
It chimes with a key recommendation in a human rights probe on Gaza alleging serious breaches of international law.
The report’s author had urged Mr Ban to put it before the Security Council to ensure the findings are followed up.
The secretary general “calls upon all of the parties to carry out credible domestic investigations into the conduct of the conflict without delay,” said Mr Pascoe, who has responsibility for political affairs.
“He hopes that such steps will be taken wherever there are credible allegations of human rights abuses throughout the world,” he added.
Libya, a rotating member of the 15-seat Security Council, had been seeking a special session of the UN’s top decision-making body to discuss the report, but agreed to bringing the monthly session on the Middle East ahead by one week.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is seeking a special session of the UN Human Rights Council to vote on the report, after facing days of angry criticism when the PA backed a delay in the vote until March.
Threat of referral
The investigation, led by Richard Goldstone - a veteran South African judge and war crimes prosecutor - accused Israel of using disproportionate force and deliberately harming civilians during the 22-day conflict which began on 27 December 2008.
Hamas militants were accused of indiscriminate rocket fire at Israeli civilians.
UN condemns ‘war crimes’ in Gaza
Israel condemns UN Gaza report
It urged the UN Security Council to refer allegations to the International Criminal Court if either side failed to investigate and prosecute suspects.
Israel has rejected the evidence, saying it has already investigated its troops’ conduct, clearing most of the subjects of wrongdoing. Hamas also denied committing war crimes.
Israeli military action destroyed thousands of homes, hundreds of factories and 80 official buildings in Gaza.
Palestinians and human rights groups say more than 1,400 people were killed in the violence between 27 December 2008 and 16 January 2009, more than half of them civilians.
Israel puts the number of deaths at 1,166 - fewer than 300 of them civilians. Three Israeli civilians and 10 Israeli soldiers were also killed.