The Jewish Board of Deputies has hit back at two Muslim NGOs who have approached the NPA to act against South Africans they claim were involved in war crimes in Gaza.

The groups say there is evidence that at least 70 people - some with SA and Israeli citizenship - carried out operation Cast Lead last December.

One thousand and four hundred Palestinians, ten Israeli soldiers and two civilians were killed in the three-week war.

They are also calling on Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and the Hawks to arrest South African born David Benjamin who was adviser to the Israeli Defence force.

The Jewish Board of Deputies’ Zev Krengel said, “First off there’s no mention of any atrocity done by one Hamas person or a discussion of the indiscriminate rockets they fired at Israeli citizens.”

Lawyer Yousha Tayob, who is acting on behalf of the NGOs, said he was confident they would get a positive response from authorities.

“At this stage we’ve had a response from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation acknowledging receipt. We’ve had telephonic communications with the Minister of Safety and Security and the Commissioner of Police confirming receipt.”