Recurring conflict

Fears of recurring conflict may hinder West from funding Gaza’s rebuilding, human rights expert warns

From CNN’s Chris Lau

Western states may hesitate to fund Gaza’s reconstruction without a peace settlement agreed by Israel, an international human rights consultant has warned.

Christopher Sidoti is part of a UN independent commission that issued a report last week accusing Israel of war crimes.

He said that Western states, particularly European nations, had donated large amounts of money to reconstruct Gaza after bouts of conflict.

“I don’t know that they will be so keen to do it this time unless they have guarantees that the tens of billions that they pour into Gaza will not be destroyed by the Israelis in the next outbreak of violence,” he told CNN’s Michael Holmes.

“So the reconstruction of Gaza depends upon a peace settlement,” he said.

Sidoti also said both the Israelis and Hamas militants responsible for the war that caused “tens of thousands of innocent victims” to suffer should face trial.

“They should be held accountable by bringing abroad before the International Criminal Court, charged and prosecuted,” he said.

“They should have the opportunity to defend themselves, an opportunity I have to say which neither the Israeli military nor the Palestinian armed groups have given to the innocent victims, the tens of thousands of innocent victims of this fighting in the last 12 months.”