Swiss Ambassador Paul Fivat speaks to the media following the Conference of High Contracting Parties
A meeting convened by Switzerland, as the Depository of the Fourth Geneva Convention, ended with the expected condemnation of Israel. Israel was said to violate international humanitarian law, among other things, by Jews building and living on Arab-claimed land. "Hamas" wasn't mentioned. Also omitted was any reference to the Geneva Conventions being violated by Hamas using children as human shields. The word "tunnel" and "rocket" likewise never made it into the declaration about the violations of humanitarian law. Israel, Canada, the U.S. and Australia did not participate. Switzerland agreed to summon the meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Convention following a request by the Palestinian Authority which signed the treaty in April of 2014. The High Contracting Parties have only met twice before - both times to condemn Israel. Concern about violations of international humanitarian law is a highly selective affair.