Tutu embedded in Gaza Asymmetric War

Desmond Tutu released his comments in a final report to the UN Human Rights Council, which had sent him to Gaza to investigate the killings in Beit Hanoun in November 2006.

On the three-day visit, Tutu and his team visited the ruined house, interviewed the survivors and met others in Gaza, including the senior Hamas figure and former prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh. At the time, Tutu said he wanted to travel to Israel to hear the Israeli account of events, but he was not permitted. Israel did not grant the archbishop or his team a visa. They entered Gaza in May this year on a rare crossing from Egypt.

Tutu said the Israeli attack, which hit the Athamna family house, showed "a disproportionate and reckless disregard for Palestinian civilian life".

"In the absence of a well-founded explanation from the Israeli military - which is in sole possession of the relevant facts - the mission must conclude that there is a possibility that the shelling of Beit Hanoun constituted a war crime," Tutu said in his report.

Tutu also said that rockets fired by Palestinian militants into southern Israel should stop and should be investigated. "Those firing rockets on Israeli civilians are no less accountable than the Israeli military for their actions," he said.

First, let's accuse Israel of war crime. Later, let's mildly blame those who are firing Sderot.

Another episode of asymmetric warfare.

Words can kill as well as knives.