UNITED NATIONS REPORT ON GAZA

Early day motion 1991, tabled 12 October 2009 by John Austin (Labour). Signed by 77 members.

That this House welcomes the United Nations' mandated report led by eminent judge Richard Goldstone, which details transgressions by both the Israeli military and Palestinian groups during fighting from December 2008 to January 2009 in Gaza; notes that the report concludes that Israel's actions amounted to war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity due to disproportionate use of force that involved the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure and the use of illegal weapons and human shields as part of an intentional policy directed at the people of Gaza as a whole; further notes that the Mission urges the UN Security Council to refer the matter to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court should Israel's internal investigations not prove satisfactory; further notes that Hamas was also considered to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the firing of rockets and mortars at civilians, but that whilst Hamas already faces sanctions from the international community Israel enjoys widespread patronage and support from many nations, including the UK; and calls on the British Government to insist that all parties are held fully accountable for their actions in order to deter future war crimes and crimes against humanity from taking place.

Signatures by party: Labour 49, Liberal Democrat 20, Independent 2, Scottish National Party 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Conservative 1, Plaid Cymru 1.