UN Announces Board Of Inquiry To Investigate Attacks On Its Premises During Gaza War

The United Nations, on Monday, announced the formation of an “internal and independent” board of inquiry to investigate attacks on U.N. premises in the Gaza Strip during the recently concluded 50-day war, according to a statement released Monday.

The five-member panel will “review and investigate a number of specific incidents in which death or injuries occurred at, and/or damage was done to United Nations premises,” a spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said, in the statement. “The Board will also review and investigate incidents in which weapons were found to be present on United Nations premises.”

During the war, at least five U.N. facilities, including three U.N.-run schools sheltering displaced Palestinians, were targeted by Israeli forces, killing nearly 50 civilians, including many children.

Defending the attacks on the U.N. premises, Israel had reportedly said that the buildings were targeted because Hamas -- the Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip -- was using them to store weapons.

This is the second board of inquiry set up by the U.N. to investigate the war in Gaza. The U.N. Human Rights Council had, in July, established a commission, led by Canadian lawyer William Schabas, to investigate alleged violations of human rights and international laws during the Israeli offensive.

The U.N. spokesman said, in the statement, that the U.N. expects the latest board of inquiry, led by retired Dutch general Patrick Cammaert, to “enjoy the full cooperation of all parties concerned.”