Human rights groups call for Gaza war crimes probes to be referred to Int'l Criminal Court

GENEVA — Human rights groups want probes into alleged war crimes during last year's Gaza conflict referred to the International Criminal Court.

The International Federation for Human Rights and 21 other groups say Israel and Palestinian group Hamas haven't properly investigated alleged abuses detailed in a 2009 United Nations report.

U.N. experts told the U.N. Human Rights Council on Monday that neither side has met the demands of the report compiled by South African judge Richard Goldstone.

But they stopped short of calling for the ICC's immediate involvement.

Rights groups say Goldstone report would be essentially dead if the U.N. doesn't push for ICC prosecutors to take up the case.

Israel says it has properly investigated all allegations.


(2010-09-28/The Canadian Press)