Reply #4: Conflict continues over Gaza

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One wonders whether the prime minister and the foreign secretary noticed that on Tuesday a UN commission headed by Richard Goldstone published findings that Israel had and indeed is still committing war crimes and almost certainly crimes against humanity (Israel must investigate war crimes in Gaza – UN report, 16 September). This included the collective punishment of an entire civilian population with attacks directed at the people of Gaza as a whole.

Back in January Mr Miliband told parliament that he supported such investigations, stating that allegations of war crimes must be "closely and speedily investigated" to "find out if they are true and, if they are, take appropriate action". We have yet to hear a murmur.

Hamas is already sanctioned for its actions but Israel again looks like it will walk away from yet another forensic examination of its war crimes and violations of international law with impunity.

Will Brown, Miliband and their counterparts in the other parties conduct business with Israel as usual? For example, will such detailed accounts of war crimes make them think twice before attending Friends of Israel receptions at their party conferences? I hope the Guardian reports.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/18/gaza-un-war...