Torture is recognised as a war crime. See http://www.hrweb.org/legal/cat.html

Here are some documented war crimes:

From The Guardian 29 July 2008

"Palestinians detained by Fatah and Hamas, the two main factions in the West Bank and Gaza, face routine abuse and torture, according to two leading human rights organisations in reports published this week."

"Al-Haq blamed Hamas's Executive Force and the group's armed wing, the Izz-al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, for most of the abuses in Gaza. It said the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas's Preventive Security Force and General Intelligence Service were the main culprits in the West Bank."

See:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/29/israelandthepalestinians.humanrights

Bottom line:

Hamas is responsible for war crimes in Gaza.

War crimes are also being committed in the West Bank. Mainly by Fatah.

BRING THE WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE!

The International Criminal Court should issue arrest warrants for Fatah's Abbas and for the Hamas leadership.

Enter the anti-semites in 3.....2.....1...

Agree with Steven,

All war criminals should be brought to justice; the amnesty report condemns many countries:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/25_05_05_amnestyintro.pdf

Amnesty's accusations against the Israeli army include unlawful killings, torture, extensive and wanton destruction of property, obstruction of medical assistance and targeting of medical personnel.
Amnesty also says Israel has continued to use Palestinians as "human shields" during military operations, "forcing them to carry out tasks that endangered their lives", despite an injunction by Israel's high court banning the practice.
The report accuses Israel of offering impunity to soldiers and settlers who commit crimes against Palestinians.

Egypt and Syria are blamed for systematic torture and ill-treatment of political prisoners.

In Saudi Arabia, Amnesty highlights killings by security forces and armed groups, exacerbating the "already dire human rights situation in the country".

Jordan is said to have made scores of political arrests, amid reports of torture and ill-treatment in custody.

In Iraq, the report says US-led forces committed gross human rights violations, including unlawful killings, arbitrary detention and torture. Armed groups in Iraq are similarly blamed for targeting civilians, hostage-taking and killing hostages

I think human rights and war crimes should be considered as serious crimes.

Well F_H for once we're in agreement. The ICC should issue an arrest warrant where:

--There exists a reasonable prima facie case that war crimes have been committed; and

--The suspects' own country is unable or unwilling to try the alleged perpetrators

I look forward to seeing King Adullah of Saudi Arabia in The Hague alongside Omar al-Bashir and Dubya.

Dear Steven,

I was quite surprised when I googled,
"War crimes in Gaza and the West Bank,"
all I got was war crimes committed by Israel.
One website after another.
From the BBC to Amnesty International.

I finally ended up with:

http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article 9324.shtml

And I quote:

"The extensive destruction of property not justified
by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly
is a grave breach of the 4th Geneva Convention.

The collective punishment of civilians is also
forbidden under the Geneva Conventions.

Over the years, many Palestinian civilians have tried to
obtain redress, peacefully and lawfully, through the
Israeli courts for incidents of this nature.
Sadly without success. Which in itself is a breach
of Geneva Conventions.

Offering people who suffer wrongs a route to redress without
violence is fundamental to preserving the rule of law.

All nations are required to take effective steps to
prosecute war crimes irrespective of where they occur."

I agree with you Steven, especially when there is
concrete evidence.

Careful what you wish for, Steven...