United Nations Radio

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is awaiting the outcome of Israeli and Palestinian investigations into alleged war crimes committed during the Israeli military operation in Gaza on December 2008.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

A four-member fact finding mission led by Judge Richard Goldstone found that Israeli forces and Hamas violated human rights and humanitarian law during the Gaza conflict.

In November last year the General Assembly adopted resolution requesting Israel and the Palestine to investigate the allegations within three months.

The Assembly also requested Secretary-General to submit a report within three months on the implementation of its resolution.

UN Spokesman Martin Nesirky says the report, which has been transmitted to the General Assembly, contains inputs from the Israeli and Palestinian sides on the efforts they have made so far to conduct the investigations.

"In all cases, it is clear that the processes which have been initiated are still ongoing. As such, no determination can be made on the implementation of the resolution. As he states in the report, the Secretary-General believes that international humanitarian law needs to be fully respected and civilians must be protected in all situations and circumstances."

The Secretary-General hopes that the Governments of Israel and Palestine are conducting investigations that are independent, credible and in accordance with international standards.

Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations.

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