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Israelis testify at UN enquiry on war crimes during Gaza conflict
A delegation of Israeli citizens from communities bordering the Gaza Strip travelled to Geneva yesterday to testify before a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)-appointed commission of inquiry over Operation Protective Edge.
The UNHRC has a track record of hostility towards Israel and Israel’s government decided not to officially cooperate with the investigation when it was announced that it would be headed by Prof. William Schabas, a Canadian international law expert. Schabas is an outspoken critic of Israel, who said in 2013, “My favourite would be [Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu within the dock of the International Criminal Court (ICC),” while several years earlier he called for the ICC to pursue Israeli President Shimon Peres.
Although Israel did not permit its commissioners, Schabas, Gabon diplomat Baudelaire Ndong Ella and former New York Supreme Court judge Mary McGowan to enter the country, officials gave the green light for southern residents to give their testimony after thousands of rockets were fired at their communities during the 50-day conflict.
Seven Israelis travelled to Geneva yesterday under the auspices of the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, including Haim Yellin, head of the Eshkol Regional Council and Channel Ten journalist Or Heller. Yellin said that he was determined to relay the reality of 15 years of Gaza rocket fire aimed at his region, commenting, “They will not silence me. [I will tell them about] the first mortar in Nahal Oz [leading up to] the Kassam rockets in Sderot … I’m going to speak for those who can’t do so any more.”
In another sign that Israel will attempt to impact the commission without official cooperation, it was reported this week that the Foreign Ministry has instructed diplomats to work to influence countries on the UNHRC. A leaked internal cable apparently urged that “as many countries as possible – with the hope that at least 24 will not approve the committee’s findings – to either vote against, abstain or not show up [for the vote].”