RAMALLAH, June 15 (JMCC) - The United Nations has appointed a three-person panel to monitor the independent investigations of the Israelis and Palestinians into the allegations of war crimes committed during Israel's 22-day offensive in the Gaza Strip which ended in early 2009.

The charges were compiled by former South African judge Richard Goldstone in his detailed report submitted to the United Nations last year.

The UN Human Rights Coucil gave both parties implicated in the report a specified time-frame to comply with the allegations of the report with investigations of their own.

The committee announced on Monday is commissioned to “monitor and assess any domestic, legal or other proceedings undertaken by both the Government of Israel and the Palestinian side… including the independence, effectiveness and genuineness of these investigations and their conformity with international standards.”

“The committee will focus on the need to ensure accountability for all violations of international humanitarian and international human rights laws during the Gaza conflict, in order to prevent impunity, assure justice, deter further violations and promote peace,” Pillay said. “These three experts are eminently suited to fulfill the committee’s mandate, and I would like to take this opportunity to call on all relevant parties to fully cooperate with the committee.”

All three members of the panel are renowned international jurists and experts in the field.

Read more at the UN News Centre...