[JURIST] The UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) [official website] on Thursday urged Israel [report] to investigate alleged violations committed by its forces during the recent wars in Gaza to ensure justice. Israel’s latest attacks in the Gaza Strip, the third in only seven years, resulted in more than 2,100 deaths. Many of those hurt or killed in the 51-day conflict were civilians. The UNHRC called on Israel to uphold the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [text], asking them to “ensure that all human rights violations committed during its military operations in the Gaza Strip in 2008-2009, 2012 and 2014 are thoroughly, effectively, independently and impartially investigated, that perpetrators, including, in particular, persons in positions of command are prosecuted and sanctioned.” Additionally the UNHRC implored Israel to cease administrative detention of Palestinians, confiscation of land, forced eviction and construction on the Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

2014 proved to be one of the most intense periods of violence for the Israel-Palestine conflict [HRW backgrounder, JURIST news archive]. Last month a jury for the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York found [JURIST report] the Jordan-based Arab Bank liable for providing material support to Hamas. Also last month HRW accused [JURIST report] the Israeli military of committing war crimes over the summer by attacking schools where hundreds of displaced Palestinians sought shelter. In the same month the Shurat HaDin of the Israel Law Center announced [JURIST report] that they have asked the International Criminal Court Office of the Prosecutor to open an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal. In June United Nations Secretary General Ban Kim Moon urged [JURIST report] Israel to release Palestinian administrative detainees over fears of failing health in a hunger strike.