Editing Operation Defensive Shield (section)

===UN fact-finding mission===
A UN fact-finding mission was established under [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1405|UN Security Council Resolution 1405]] (April 19, 2002) into Operation Defensive Shield following Palestinian charges that a massacre had occurred in Jenin, which later proved to be false.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} In its attachment to the UN report the Palestinian Authority decried Israel's "culture of impunity" and called for "an international presence to monitor compliance with international humanitarian law, to help in providing protection to Palestinian civilians and to help the parties to implement agreements reached."<ref name="UNMay7" />

A report of the European Union attached in the report stated, "The massive destruction, especially at the centre of the refugee camp, to which all heads of mission in Jerusalem and Ramallah can testify, shows that the site had undergone an indiscriminate use of force, that goes well beyond that of a battlefield."<ref name="UNMay7" />

The report states that there were numerous reports of the [[Human shields in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict|IDF using Palestinians as human shields]]. Israel denied the allegations.<ref name="jenin_report_press">[https://www.un.org/press/en/2002/SG2077.doc.htm ''Report of Secretary-General on recent events in Jenin, other Palestinian cities''], Press Release. UN, 1 August 2002 (doc.nr. SG2077)</ref>