Mark has joined other MPs in signing a motion in Parliament calling for an independent investigation by the UN into allegations that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) committed war crimes during the fighting in Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009.

These allegations concern the:

• Use of Palestinian civilians as human shields
• Targeting of doctors, medical staff and facilities
• Use of armed Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - UAVs or armed drones - against civilians

All of these are banned under the Fourth Geneva Convention to which both Britain and Israel are signatories. Israel's own Supreme Court has also ruled against the use of Human Shields stating that it goes against international law.

Mark strongly opposed Israeli actions at the time of the fighting and in particular condemned the civilian casualties and attacks on medical facilities that were occurring.

He said:
"There is a pressing need for a full, independent inquiry into the allegations to establish the facts since the Israeli Defence Forces have simply exonerated their own troops.

"Whilst the world has turned its attention away from Gaza for the present, we must send a signal for the future that states must respect international law and the rights of civilians during conflicts.

"The political situation may be complex but the right of medical staff to treat casualties without being attacked themselves is absolutely clear."
 
According to the World Health Organisation, 15 hospitals, 38 Primary Health Care Clinics and 29 ambulances were either damaged or destroyed. 16 medics were killed and 22 were wounded as a result of the Israeli offensive.

The Israeli Defence Forces have themselves admitted that the optics on their weapons and the unmanned drones are so advanced that they can identify the colour of the intended target's t-shirt. This makes it more difficult to see the numbers of doctors and civilians in general killed by the IDF as accidental.

Under international law, states must only use such force as is proportional to the threat faced and combatants have a duty to try to "spare civilians from the effects of the hostilities".

The IDF has rejected the allegations but the influential Israeli daily, Ha'aretz has reported that rather than civilian casualties being isolated incidents, the highest echelons of the IDF approved an 'easing of the rules of engagement' during the recent fighting.