United Nations could happen to declare the military offensive launched by Israel against Gaza from December 27 to January 18 as a "war crime". Such is the stance taken by UN representative in the area, Richard Falk, who has asked the Human Rights Council to open an investigation on the possibility by the Israeli army to discriminate between military and civil targets. The military strikes left 1,434 dead Palestinians, 960 of which were civilians, and 13 Israelis.

According to Reuters, Falk has said that if it was not possible for the military to distinguish their targets, "then launching the attacks was inherently unlawful and would seem to constitute a war crime of the greatest magnitude under international law". The report claimed by the special rapporteur is also to examine possible crimes committed by Hamas.

Amongst violations condemned by Falk there are "targeting of schools, mosques and ambulances" and the use of white phosphorus by Israel, as well as Hamas's firing of rockets at civilian targets. In addition, he said that Israel's blockade of the strip may constitute crimes against humanity and violation of the Geneva Conventions.

Some Israeli soldiers have given recently detailed account of the orders they obeyed during the attack. Le Monde.fr quotes an Israeli soldier as saying: "When we entered a house, we had to pull down the door and shoot inside [...] Every time we came across someone we shot them [...]. We had to kill everybody, because they are all terrorists". They have also admitted to have deliberately damaged and destroyed private property owned by Palestinians.

An Israeli NGO, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHR), has accused Tel Aviv of violating "medical ethic codes", since "the army not only did not allow for the evacuation of wounded and trapped civilians, but also prevented Palestinian medical services from assisting wounded victims". The organization says that 16 medical staff were shot dead and 34 health centers were attacked.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief has contradicted his soldiers and has refused any accusations of harming Palestinian civilians in "cold blood", and added that "the IDF is the most moral army in the world".

Picture: A school and a mosque in Gaza, destroyed during the Israeli attack against Gaza (International Solidarity Movement).

Further information:

• Breaking the silence, Israeli soldiers talk about the occupied territories
• Reuters: U.N. rights envoy sees Israeli war crimes in Gaza
• Le Monde.fr: Des soldats israéliens dénoncent le comportement de l'armée à Gaza
• Haaretz: 'I don't believe IDF harmed Gaza civilians in cold blood'
• Nationalia:Food and medical aid to reach Gaza after ceasefire