Published yesterday (updated) 28/12/2009 10:44

Ramallah – Ma'an –

Marking the anniversary of the Israeli assault on Gaza, President Mahmoud Abbas vowed to seek prosecution for Israeli political and military leaders who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during their war of aggression on Gaza last year.

"While commemorating the first anniversary of the Israeli offensive on Gaza, we reiterate that we are determined to go after the war criminals who committed the most gruesome crimes against innocent children, the elderly, and women in every international court until they receive their just penalty," he said.

In a statement, Abbas added, "The Israeli army, which is placing the residents of Gaza under siege and potentially renewing the offensive, is imposing a siege on the other part [of Palestine], the West Bank, through settlements that confiscate lands, by uprooting trees, demolishing homes, and expelling residents, in addition to the arrests of thousands and continuing the policy of assassination, as we saw in Nablus on Saturday."

The statement concluded by urging Hamas to sign the Egyptian proposal for joining a a unity government with Fatah "to rebuild Gaza and rescue the people there."

Abbas came under pressure in September when the Israeli press exposed his government's role in delaying South African jurist Richard Goldstone's report on Gaza, which found evidence both Israel and Palestinian armed groups committed war crimes during the three-week assault that killed some 1,400 Palestinians.

In the aftermath, which sparked massive protests in Gaza and one Palestinian Authority cabinet minister's resignation, Abbas reversed the decision and formed a commission of inquiry to determine why the PLO's ambassador in Geneva suggested the report be delayed at the UN Human Rights Council. The committee, however, has yet to offer any explanation for the move.

Abbas: “We Will Prosecute Those War Criminals”

Monday December 28, 2009 13:02 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, stated that the Palestinian Authority will act on prosecuting all Israeli war criminals who killed women, elderly and children during the aggression on Gaza one year ago.

He added that the Israeli government committed one of its worst crimes against the Palestinian people and did not exclude a child, infant, a woman and an elderly, while the world observed this crime.

Abbas said that the Palestinian Authority would resort to international bodies to prosecute “those war criminals”, and will never back down until they are all prosecuted.

“On a day like this, one year ago, the occupation committed one of its ugliest crimes”, he stated, “The occupation did not have mercy on any child, woman and even a disabled elderly”.

He also stated that Gaza remains under siege while Israel is still threatening another war and aggression and at the same time the occupation ongoing with its illegal settlement activities in the West Bank, and with the execution of fighters.

“Time is blood, our nation is in danger, the Gaza Strip is still under siege and thousands of civilians are still homeless”, the Palestinian president said, “Dozens of thousands are unemployed, and thousands of bereaved families have no support, while Israel is still seeking further aggression and destruction”.

He further called on the Hamas movement to sign the Egyptian Unity Deal so that the Palestinians can regain their unity and rebuild the Gaza Strip