The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has announced a five-member panel who will investigate attacks on UN buildings during Israel's offensive into Gaza this summer.
The appointment of the panel has been opposed by Israel, who have called on the Secretary-General to wait until the conclusion of its own government inquiry.
The UN board of inquiry will be led by Patrick Cammaert, a Dutch general who has led several peacekeeping missions, and includes UN officials from Argentina, Canada, India and the United States.
According to a statement from the Secretary-General's office, the inquiry will review and investigate a number of specific incidents in which death or injuries occurred at, and/or damage was done to United Nations premises,” as well as”incidents in which weapons were found to be present on United Nations premises.”
“The Secretary-General expects that the Board will enjoy the full cooperation of all parties concerned,” concluded the statement.
The New York Times reported that a similar UN inquiry in 2009 led to Israel paying $10 million in compensation to the United Nations. Ban Ki-Moon, who visited Gaza last month, said the destruction that had occurred was “beyond belief”.
"Nothing could have prepared me for what I witnessed," he said.
Also see our earlier posts:
UN to investigate attacks on Gaza facilities (23 October 2014)
US condemns UN school shelling as 'disgraceful', fighting rages on in Gaza (03 August 2014)
UN & US condemn shelling of UN school in Gaza (30 July 2014)
UN run school in Gaza hit by shelling (24 July 2014)
The appointment of the panel has been opposed by Israel, who have called on the Secretary-General to wait until the conclusion of its own government inquiry.
The UN board of inquiry will be led by Patrick Cammaert, a Dutch general who has led several peacekeeping missions, and includes UN officials from Argentina, Canada, India and the United States.
According to a statement from the Secretary-General's office, the inquiry will review and investigate a number of specific incidents in which death or injuries occurred at, and/or damage was done to United Nations premises,” as well as”incidents in which weapons were found to be present on United Nations premises.”
“The Secretary-General expects that the Board will enjoy the full cooperation of all parties concerned,” concluded the statement.
The New York Times reported that a similar UN inquiry in 2009 led to Israel paying $10 million in compensation to the United Nations. Ban Ki-Moon, who visited Gaza last month, said the destruction that had occurred was “beyond belief”.
"Nothing could have prepared me for what I witnessed," he said.
Also see our earlier posts:
UN to investigate attacks on Gaza facilities (23 October 2014)
US condemns UN school shelling as 'disgraceful', fighting rages on in Gaza (03 August 2014)
UN & US condemn shelling of UN school in Gaza (30 July 2014)
UN run school in Gaza hit by shelling (24 July 2014)