Operation Cast Lead, and claims of alleged Israeli war crimes in Gaza, have been investigated by numerous international organizations, almost always with Israeli cooperation. Unfortunately, the Goldstone Mission - based on a UN Human Rights Council (HRC) mandate - was politically motivated and one-sided, making Israeli cooperation with the mission impossible.
Hamas is guilty of repeated and deliberate attacks on civilian populations, which, by definition, constitute war crimes. The HRC mandate, however, ignored Hamas terrorist actions, focusing solely on the Israeli reaction.
Behind the Headlines: The Goldstone Report refuted - by Goldstone himself (April 2011)
Richard Goldstone: Reconsidering the Goldstone Report on Israel and war crimes (Washington Post, 1 Apr 2011)
We know a lot more today about what happened in the Gaza war of 2008-09 than we did when I chaired the fact-finding mission appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council that produced what has come to be known as the Goldstone Report. If I had known then what I know now, the Goldstone Report would have been a different document.
Human Rights Council - Richard J. Goldstone Fact-Finding Mission Questions and Answers:
Why hasn't Israel cooperated with international investigations into the Gaza Operation?
Why does Israel state that the Goldstone Mission was politically motivated?
Wasn't the mandate of the Mission changed to be more balanced?
Wasn't the Mission balanced in practice? Didn’t it invite all sides to present evidence at public hearings?
Can't Israel rely on the neutrality of the UN Human Rights Council?
But if Israel doesn't cooperate, won't wrongdoers go unpunished?
How did Israel respond to the Goldstone Mission report?