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Hamas authorities in Gaza should immediately launch a "credible investigation" into allegations of serious violations by its fighters during last winter's Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Wednesday.

The call came in a letter HRW sent on Tuesday to Ismail Haniyeh, prime minister of the de facto Hamas government in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas said in response that while it would launched an investigation, the HRW appeal was better directed toward Israel.

A statement issued by HRW noted that a United Nations fact-finding mission into the Gaza fighting, led by Justice Richard Goldstone, called on Hamas and Israel to investigate within three months alleged war crimes by their respective forces during the December 27 to January 18 fighting.

The Goldstone report accused Israel of firing white phosphorous shells in populated areas during the fighting, and of using Palestinian civilians as "human shields" by forcing them to search the homes of militants.

It also said that the Palestinian rocket attacks against Israeli civilian centers, Israel's reason for launching the offensive, should be regarded as war crimes.

Haniyeh's political adviser Yousef Rizka said in response to the
HRW call that the Hamas-led government of Gaza "will carry out all Goldstone's recommendations involving the Hama... >>>