Middle East: Israel's planned pullout from Gaza will not change its status as occupying power in the territory under a section of the Geneva Convention, the UN special human rights envoy to the occupied territories said.
South African law professor John Dugard also repeated accusations that Israel probably committed war crimes with its "wanton" destruction of Palestinian homes in military incursions last year. "It will remain an occupying power still subject to obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention," he said in his annual report to the UN Commission on Human Rights. This was because it would retain ultimate power over Gaza by controlling its borders. - (Reuters)