The British Foreign Office has expressed continued support for the controversial Goldstone Report into IDF actions in Gaza two years ago, despite its author's recent statements questioning the findings.

Judge Goldstone revealed last week that if he had known when compiling the report what he knew now, "it would have been a different document." He also said he was wrong to allege instances of Israel deliberately targeting civilians during the fighting with Hamas.

However a spokesman for the Foreign Office told the JC: "Allegations of breaches of international humanitarian law made against all parties to the Gaza conflict are not limited to the Goldstone Report, and have arisen from certain other credible organisations.

"We firmly believe that any and all such allegations must be met with credible and independent investigations by the parties to the conflict."

He said that Judge Goldstone's latest comments, made in the Washington Post, had come about "because of the process that was set in train by his fact - finding mission".

The spokesman also said that the Foreign Office felt that such independent investigations of claims made against Israel should continue, because Judge Goldstone had not elaborated "on his views on the various other allegations made against Israel in his report," or called for the report's retraction.