Hamas: PA trades in blood of Gaza children

The democratically-elected premier of Hamas government in Gaza has lambasted the Palestinian Authority over its decision to delay a vote on a report about the Israeli war crimes in Gaza.

Ismail Haniya also slammed as "reckless and irresponsible" the decision by the UN Human Rights Council to postpone consideration of the damning report.

"The decision taken by Ramallah to withdraw the Goldstone report was reckless and irresponsible," Haniya said, referring to the Western-backed government of the acting Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas.

The decision "trades in the blood of the children of Gaza." AFP quoted Haniya as saying on Sunday.

Sixteen Palestinian human rights groups have also issued a statement condemning the decision made by the Palestinian Authority.

It "denies the Palestinian people's right to an effective judicial remedy and equal protection of the law," the statement said.

"It represents the triumph of politics over human rights. It is an insult to all victims and a rejection of their rights," the groups said.

The decision made by the Western-backed PA is widely seen as the result of pressure from the US, which had claimed that the report is biased against Israel.

The UN probe by the former international war crimes prosecutor Richard Goldstone had called for prosecution of Israeli authorities over their war crimes and possible crimes against humanity during the three-week war earlier this year.