Written question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Malloch-Brown (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 April 2009.

War Crimes

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the United Nations has started to investigate alleged war crimes in Lebanon in 2006 and in Gaza in 2008–09; if so, by what means; and when preliminary results are likely to be available.

Answer: The UN Secretary-General's board of inquiry into attacks on UN facilities in Gaza is currently carrying out its investigations and we will consider very carefully the results of the investigation once they become available. There are also enquiries under the auspices of the UN Human Rights Council. The UN is to yet to confirm by what means and when the results will become available. A commission of inquiry, set up by the UN Human Rights Council, has investigated and reported on Israel's military action in Lebanon in 2006. A summary of the report is available for viewing online at www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/CEFE948FI2DDCEE6 C12571FD0053DBC1?opendocument.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 2255; 709 c395-6WA
Session: 2008-09
Subjects: Armed conflict United Nations War crimes Israel Palestine Middle East Lebanon Gaza
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk