By KUNA
Geneva : UN High Commissioner forr Human Rights Louise Arbour called today on the on the government of Israel to conduct impartial investigations into the killings of civilians, make the findings public and hold any perpetrators accountable. She, added in a statement issued today, that she reiterates her earlier warning that collective punishment is prohibited under international law. Arbour stressed that Israel, as the occupying power, bears a particular responsibility under international human rights and humanitarian law to protect the civilian population and civilian installations in Gaza. Like all other UN and Western officials, Arbour called upon the international community to step up pressure on both sides to uphold their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law, and to ensure that failure to do so is dealt with appropriately. She also, like all UN and Western officials, said that while recognizing Israel’s right to defend itself, condemned the Israeli Defence Force’s disproportionate use of force, not bothering to state that rocket launching by Palestinian militants is a direct result of the perpetrated occupation by Israel of the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt).