Israel must probe Gaza crimes for peace: US

The United States called on its close ally Israel on Tuesday to conduct credible investigations into allegations of war crimes committed by its forces in Gaza, saying it would help the Middle East peace process as a United Nations investigator said the lack of accountability for the injustice was obstructing path to peace.

Michael Posner, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, said that Hamas leaders also had a responsibility to investigate crimes.

The U.N. Human Rights Council was holding a one-day debate on a recent report by Richard Goldstone, a South African jurist and former U.N. war crimes prosecutor.

Goldstone said a lack of accountability for war crimes committed in the Middle East has reached "crisis point", undermining any hope for peace in the region.

Goldstone called on Israeli and Hamas authorities to conduct open and credible investigations into atrocities during their December-January war in the strip.

"A culture of impunity in the region has existed for too long," Goldstone told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.

"The lack of accountability for war crimes and possible war crimes against humanity has reached a crisis point; the ongoing lack of justice is undermining any hope for a successful peace process and reinforcing an environment that fosters violence."

Israel 22-day air, land and sea assault of the Gaza strip killed more than 1,400 Palestinians and thirteen Israelis, 10 soldiers and three civilians.

Goldstone urged the 47-member state forum to adopt his panel's recent report which found that the Israeli army and Palestinian militants committed war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity during the conflict. Adoption of the report would mean it is referred to the U.N. Security Council for further action.

Goldstone, a South African, acknowledged that the four-member panel had been hit with a "barrage of criticism" on its findings, but said the investigation had not been politically motivated.

It was also important not to ascribe collective guilt to a people. "People of the region should not be demonized," he said.

Israeli and Palestinian delegations are due to address the Geneva forum, which is holding an all-day debate on the report before considering resolutions on the issue later this week.

The lack of accountability for war crimes and possible war crimes against humanity has reached a crisis point; the ongoing lack of justice is undermining any hope for a successful peace process and reinforcing an environment that fosters violence

Richard Goldstone, former U.N. war crimes prosec