Ron Prosor
Ron ProsorFlash 90

Israel's ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor has submitted a list of Hamas war crimes that took place during Operation Protective Edge to the UN Security Council. In a message accompanying the list, Prosor wrote that “despite the fact that the Council recognizes that Hamas has committed war crimes, nothing has been done yet about them.”

Prosor submitted a lengthy, detailed list of all the rockets fired by Hamas – their targets and the damage they caused – with nearly all of them fired at civilian targets, which in itself is a war crime, as well as many examples of Hamas using the Gaza civilian population as human shields, launching attacks from homes, schools, and hospitals. “I expect the Security Council to loudly condemn Hamas' activities. The Council cannot remain silent over the use by Hamas of Gaza civilians as human shields.”

Several weeks ago, Sderot residents filled out complaint forms against Hamas, which were then submitted to the UN Human Rights Council. In addition, about 46.000 people from more than 80 countries have signed a petition that calls on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to put Hamas leaders on trial for war crimes. This petition, at takeapenglobal.com, was initiated by Takeapen.org, which started a similar petition to the UN in 2009, following Operation Cast Lead. 

Both the letters from Sderot and the petition were initiatives of the grassroots Zionist Im Tirzu group.

The UN Human Rights Council announced several weeks ago that it would investigate the IDF's conduct during Operation Protective Edge. No action has been taken yet on the Hamas war crimes petition.