U.N. report critical of both Israel, Palestinians

JERUSALEM – A United Nations inquiry found Israel responsible for the deaths of 44 Palestinians and widespread damage at seven U.N. facilities in the Gaza Strip during the war last summer, according to a summary of the panel’s report released Monday by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who also faulted Palestinian militants for stashing weapons in U.N. schools.

In November 2014, Ban announced the establishment of an internal, independent board of inquiry to examine incidents in which fatalities, injuries or damage were caused at U.N. facilities in Gaza during the fighting, or weapons were found on the premises. Ten such incidents were reported during the 50-day conflict.

The panel completed its investigation in February and compiled a 207-page report, which includes confidential information and will not be made public. However, Ban released a 27-page executive summary.

“I deplore the fact that 44 Palestinians were killed and at least 227 injured at U.N. premises being used as emergency shelters,” Ban wrote in a letter to Dina Kawar, president of the Security Council. “U.N. premises are inviolable and should be places of safety, particularly in a situation of armed conflict,” he said.

At the same time, Ban said he was “dismayed” that Palestinian fighters put U.N. schools at risk by using them to hide their weaponry during the fighting. Though the schools were empty at the time and not being used as shelters, Ban said it was “unacceptable” to use schools to store weapons and that it undermined the understanding that U.N. facilities are off-limits as targets.