OTTAWA—Amnesty International is questioning Canada’s approach to responsibility for civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip during the current Israeli-Hamas fighting and is urging Foreign Minister John Baird to press Israel about international standards for the protection of civilians in war zones.

In a letter to Baird, Amnesty says Israel has every right to defend itself in the conflict that started when militants in Gaza fired rockets into Israeli territory. But Israel’s military response “must be in full compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights norms which, among other crucial matters, provide for the protection of civilians,” writes Alex Neve, secretary-general of Amnesty’s Canadian branch.

“It has become tragically and abundantly clear that many aspects of the Israeli aerial campaign and ground offensive violate fundamental international legal standards and that it is overwhelmingly Palestinian civilians in Gaza who are suffering the consequences,” the letter continues.

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Responding to Hamas’s firing of rockets into Israel, Israeli forces engaged in 10 days of aerial bombardment of Gaza and, in recent days, mounted a ground offensive in the coastal enclave with the aim of halting militants’ rocket fire and destroying Hamas’ tunnel network. More than 600 people have died in the fighting and thousands more have been wounded.

“It is vital that Canada recognize that the actions of Israeli military forces are causing civilian casualties and that violations of international law by Israeli forces must be the subject of an international investigation,” Neve said in the letter to Baird.

“Canada carries very substantial influence with the Israeli government. Canadian statements of concern about and pressure to end violations of international law by Israeli forces are, therefore, of vital importance,” the letter states.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government has said repeatedly that the blame for the current conflict and civilian casualties lies with Hamas.

Hamas has “sought to deliberately put civilians, from both sides, in mortal danger. We mourn the resulting death and suffering,” Guillermo Rishchynski, Canada’s representative at the United Nations, said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), citing civilian deaths in Gaza, voted to authorize an international commission of inquiry to investigate alleged abuses there since mid-June.

In response, Baird issued a statement saying, “Canada is frustrated and deeply disappointed that the UNHCR decided to completely ignore the abhorrent terrorist acts of Hamas.”

“This resolution turns a blind eye to the facts on the ground and that one party is responsible for the suffering of the Palestinian people, and that is the international terrorist group Hamas,” the statement said.

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