The judge responsible for compiling the UN report into the Israeli offensive in Gaza has rejected the “barrage of criticism” he has received since publication.

Richard Goldstone, who headed the UN’s investigation, said: "We will not address these attacks as we believe that the answers to those who have criticised us are in the findings of the report."

Mr Goldstone’s inquiry produced a 574-page report which concluded: "Israel committed actions amounting to war crimes, possibly crimes against humanity.”

Israel refused to co-operate with any of the investigations, calling the report “biased”.

Israel’s president Shimon Peres called report on the Gaza conflict “a mockery of history”
He said: “The Hamas terror organisation is the one who started the war and also carried out other awful crimes. Hamas has used terrorism for years against Israeli children.