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A controversial 574 page report issued today by the UN Fact Finding Mission led by Jewish born Justice Richard Goldstone, accuses the Israeli government of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The report investigated all violations of humanitarian law under the jurisdiction of the President of the Human Rights Council which mandated the four body team to investigate abuse in Gaza from the period 27 December 2008 through 18 January 2009.

The team, led by the South African Goldstone, reviewed more than 10,000 pages of documentation, 1200 photographs and 30 videos. Testimonials of 38 witnesses were also conducted in Geneva and Gaza after the Israeli government refused the Mission entry to the West Bank and Israel. Israel also failed to cooperate with the Mission while the Palestinian Authority was cited as cooperative.

The Mission concluded that the Israeli military assault on Gaza included a carrying out of a "systematic policy of progressive isolation and deprivation of the Gaza Strip..and the overall and continuing policy aimed at punishing the Gaza population, and in a deliberate policy of disproportionate force aimed at the civilian population."

The Mission found that the Israeli military used white phosphorous, flechettes and heavy metal weapons which the team believed should be banned. The Mission also cited several incidents when the Israeli armed forces used Palestinian residents as human shields.

The destruction of food supplies, water sanitation systems, residential houses, factories and schools underscored in the report suggested a full recommendation by the Mission, that these violations by Israel be turned over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity and crimes of persecution. The Mission emphasized that responsibility directly lies with those who designed, planned, ordered and oversaw the operations, and not the entire Israeli military.

"Israeli forces launched direct attacks against civilians with lethal outcome" the report states.

The report also indicates abuses committed by Palestinian armed groups including the repeated launching of rockets and mortars into Southern Israel.

"The real point here is the Israeli investigation has been conducted secretly by the military. It would be like having the domestic police force in New York investigate a murder by only interviewing the murderer" said Goldstone.

He also added the Israeli government has only investigated one case in seven months involving a theft of a credit card.

The report also reiterates "the harsh and unlawful practices of occupation, far from quelling resistance, breed it, including its violent manifestations."

TRNS asked Goldstone if he was hopeful further cases may be investigated by the Israeli courts and whether there was any faith left in the Israeli judicial system, and he nodded that there must be a way "through accountability and effective action."

The report recommends Israel immediately cease border closures and restrictions, release all Palestinian prisoners, allow the passage of goods including reconstruction of housing materials to the Gaza strip, and to cease from interference in the national political processes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). The report also asks the Israeli government to review its rules of engagement for military and security personnel.

"I've had an association with Israel my whole life. Long before the state of Israel was born my mother was part of the Zionist movement in South Africa. But as a Jew, I am greatly disappointed that Israel behaved this way. It is grossly wrong to label a Mission that is critical of Israel as being anti-Israel. It is in their interest that the truth be established," added Goldstone.