Chorlton Central Church

The UN-mandated, fact-finding mission led by the highly-regarded judge Richard Goldstone, investigated allegations of human rights violations committed in Gaza and southern Israel last December and January.

The Goldstone Report, (which is consistent with the separate findings of Amnesty International), concludes that both the Israeli forces and Palestinian armeed groups committed grave violations of international law including war crimes and, possibly, crimes against humanity. Both Israel and Hamas have, to date, failed to carry out credible investigations and to prosecute those responsible. Innocent civilians caught up in this conflict deserve to know the truth and obtain justice.

Israel - which refused to co-operate with Judge Goldstone's inquiry, refused access to Israel or the Occupied territories, and subsequently arrested a witness who gave evidence to the inquiry - has rejected the findings. So has the USA, while the UK abstained in a vote on the findings at the United Nations.

Plausible allegations are made by both sides against the other, but although the relative casualty figures might suggest who has the upper hand (and thus which nation has greater responsibility to end the conflict), the comfortable west ought not to campaign and protest without understanding the issues.

More recently Israeli agents appear to be responsible for the death of a senior Hamas official in Dubai.

Background

For some background information follow these links;

The Goldstone Report

Amnesty International's Report

Windows website

FODIP

revised 9 February 2010