Hamas's latest claim that its rocket attacks against Israel are not war crimes is factually and legally wrong.

Diamonds from the Marange fields of eastern Zimbabwe are mined under highly abusive conditions – the latest “blood diamonds” of the twenty-first century. To its credit, the Israeli government has tried to put pressure on Zimbabwe to improve these conditions. In the coming year, as chair of the global group that monitors the diamond industry, Israel will have the opportunity to do even more.

Governments responsible for serious human rights violations have over the past year intensified attacks against human rights defenders and organizations that document abuse.

(Jerusalem) - One year after the start of major hostilities in Gaza, both Israel and Hamas have failed to punish members of their own forces for laws-of-war violations during the fighting, Human Rights Watch said today. Israel's ongoing blockade of Gaza has also created massive humanitarian need and prevented the reconstruction of schools, homes, and basic infrastructure.

On December 27, 2008, Israel began "Operation Cast Lead," a 22-day military operation in Gaza with the stated aim of suppressing rocket fire into Israel.

Palestinian armed groups have slowed, but not stopped, their indiscriminate rocket attacks from Gaza into civilian areas of Israel.

"One year later, both Israel and Hamas have failed to punish those responsible for serious violations during the fighting," said Fred Abrahams, senior emergencies researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Some rocket attacks continue and the Israeli blockade of Gaza has prevented basic reconstruction. The only things getting built in Gaza are desperation and despair."

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Israel's High Court should order an end to the government's policy of forcibly returning to Egypt migrants who enter Israel at the Sinai border without giving them an opportunity to claim asylum.

The Israeli military appeals court should end the administrative detention of Mohammed Othman, a West Bank rights activist, and order his release.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon should provide an analytic, evaluative report on Israeli and Hamas investigations into alleged laws-of-war violations during the Gaza conflict, as requested by the General Assembly.

Two months ago in this column I raised the issue of accountability for war crimes committed in the Gaza conflict. I wrote that the findings and recommendations of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, and its reception by Israel, Hamas, the United States, and others, would be the key to achieving justice.