Israel and Hezbollah broke law
2006-10-04 00:17
Geneva - Both Israel and Hezbollah broke
international humanitarian law by failing to protect civilians
during the month-long Lebanon war, four UN human rights envoys
said in a report on Tuesday.
The investigators said that Israel had not distinguished
between military and civilian targets during the July 12-August 14
conflict, had failed to apply the principle of proportionality
and had not taken all needed precautions to limit injury and
damage to civilians.
Hezbollah fighters - whose seizing of two Israeli soldiers
triggered the fighting - violated international law with their
use of Katyusha rockets loaded with lethal anti-personnel ball
bearings fired at civilian areas in northern Israel, they said.
- Reuters