IPNEWS: As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, folks around the world have become more divided in their support for one side or the other as misinformation fuels the fires of confusion.

Many have decried perceived war crimes by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), Hamas or both, but what war crimes have actually been committed? The Smoky Mountain News spoke with David Crane, the man who successfully prosecuted former Liberian president and warlord Charles Taylor, who is now locked up in a North England Prison. In addition, Crane, who now lives in Maggie Valley, has led the effort in the United States to charge Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes his army has committed in Ukraine.

Crane said that while the situation in Israel and Gaza is in some senses politically linked to the situation in Ukraine, the discussions of war crimes are quite different as no two conflicts are the same. Crane began by noting what he considers the most obvious crimes committed.

“Hamas attacking the music festival and some of the torturing of the women and children are definitely war crimes,” he said.

While many are making “both sides” arguments and crying for prosecution of both the IDF and Hamas, Crane made it clear there was no equivocation and that Israel, at least in the first couple of weeks following the attack, had a right and an obligation to defend itself by launching attacks against Hamas targets in Gaza.

“I would really hesitate making the extreme statements that Israel is just doing the very same thing that Hamas is doing,” he said. Courtesy of WRITTEN BY KYLE PERROTTI