Rights groups urge Hamas to investigate war crimes

Eleven Palestinian human rights groups have asked Hamas to conduct a credible internal investigation into allegations it committed war crimes during last winter’s war with Israel.

U.N. investigator Richard Goldstone has said he believes both Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers committed war crimes during Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

Goldstone says Israel used excessive force and Hamas terrorized Israeli civilians with indiscriminate rocket attacks.

The U.N. General Assembly adopted Goldstone’s findings and gave both sides until Feb. 5 to investigate. Neither has done so. Israel and Hamas deny the allegations.

Shahwan Jabareen of the Palestinian group al-Haq says Hamas told him it would investigate, but that he has not seen serious steps. — ap