UN names panel to probe war crimes in Gaza

The United Nations on Monday named experts to an international commission of inquiry into possible human rights violations and war crimes committed by both sides during Israel’s military offensive in Gaza Strip. Israel, however, dismissed the inquiry as a UN Human Rights Council ‘kangaroo court’. William Schabas, a Canadian professor of international law, will head the panel whose other members are Doudou Diene, a Senegalese veteran UN human rights expert. A UN statement said Amal Alamuddin, a British-Lebanese lawyer engaged to be married to Hollywood actor George Clooney would take part though Alamuddin later denied she would participate in the inquiry. ‘I am honoured to have received the offer, but given existing commitments - including eight ongoing cases - unfortunately could not accept this role,’ she said in a statement. It was not clear who would replace Alamuddin on the panel. The UN statement said the independent team will investigate ‘all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law ... in the context of the military operations conducted since 13 June 2014,’ according to Reuters.