(BLOG) New Goldstone Follow-Up Probe Will Hold Hamas Accountable For First Time

"A year and a half after Israel’s Gaza military operation — the focus of the United Nations’ damning Goldstone Report — a new investigation launched by the Human Rights Council and due in mid-September will finally examine what Hamas has done to account for its own role in the conflict.

The Goldstone Report accused both Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes. In addition to describing 30 instances in which it said Israel breached international law, it also described the thousands of missiles that were lobbed by Hamas directly at civilian populations in southern Israel.

But since the report was issued, in September 2009, the U.N. General Assembly has twice asked for updates on what has been done to answer the allegations made by the commission headed by South African judge Richard Goldstone. In both instances, the G.A. did not make any specific requests of Hamas, which controls Gaza and is not formally recognized by the international body. Instead, there was reference to 'the Palestinian side.'"