Following is the text of the Interview:
Israel claims that it launched its military operation in Gaza in order to suppress indiscriminate rocket fire by Hamas and other armed groups into civilian areas of Israel. Hamas said that it would not halt the rocket fire until Israel lifted the blockade it had imposed on Gaza, and allowed the movement of goods and people into and out of Gaza.
In the view of Human Rights Watch, the Palestinian rocket fire, because it is aimed at civilian-inhabited areas, and cannot discriminate between military targets and civilians or civilian objects, constitutes a serious violation of the laws of war, also known as international humanitarian law. Israel’s blockade of Gaza is also a serious violation of international humanitarian law, because it amounts to collective punishment. At the same time, a serious violation by one side in a conflict does not justify serious violations by the other side in response. Thus both sides have an obligation to halt their unlawful behavior immediately and unconditionally.
The war has caused an immense amount of destruction and suffering. Not all civilian harm constitutes violations of the laws of war, but we have noted many cases in which outside international investigation is needed to determine whether Israel has been responsible for serious violations, including war crimes.
In addition, we have strongly criticized aspects of Israel’s military operation, including the use of White Phosphorus and the use of artillery in or near civilian populated areas".
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