UN public testimonies re-tell the horror of Israel's war crimes

The UN fact-finding mission sent to the Gaza Strip has held its first public hearings with victims of the Israeli war and listened to testimonies of two of them. The public hearings lasted two days.

Moussa Al-Sailawi, 91, presented his testimony about the Israeli bombing of a Mosque in Jabaliya which killed 17 civilians including his son and four other members of his family.

The mission intends to listen to testimonies of dozens of other victims in addition to international experts and eyewitnesses in order to be able to report about the Israeli war crimes committed during 22 days in Gaza.

The mission headed by South African judge Richard Goldstone is expected to finish its report at the beginning of August and to publish the investigation results the following month.

The mission visited 40 different sites in Gaza and talked to dozens of witnesses and relatives of victims including the family of Al-Sammouni who lost 29 of their members.

The Guardian also has a report on the unprecedented hearings here

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