Israel´s Betselem organization reported Wednesday that the Israeli army carefully bombed buildings in Gaza without warning, killing 13 civilians.
The report reiterates the period of escalation between the third and sixth of last May, during which Israel bombed 350 targets in Gaza, which reflected in the deaths of 25 victims, including 13 did not participate in the fighting and did not belong to any armed organization , including 3 women, one pregnant, The third month of age, and an 11-year-old child, while 153 people were injured. Three Israelis were killed and 123 injured in Hamas´s firing of 700 rockets towards the Gaza envelope settlements.
According to United Nations figures, 100 establishments, including 33 housing units, were totally destroyed and 30 other structures, including 19 housing units, were severely damaged, resulting in the destruction of 52 housing units and the displacement of 52 families, comprising 327 persons, including 65 children under age Fifth. In addition, another 700 housing units were damaged.
In four of the raids on buildings, victims were inside or in the vicinity. Where the total number of martyrs in these raids 14.
B´Tselem´s investigation showed that the residents had not been warned seriously before the bombing, perhaps the warning would have enabled them to survive on their own and save their property.
"The firing of rockets and bombardments on densely populated areas, like in the Gaza Strip, naturally involves a real danger to the civilian population," says the organization. "We are not talking about a theoretical danger, but rather a proven reality: Israel, which boasts high technological and intelligence capabilities, In recent years, there have been 1,055 Palestinians who have not participated in the fighting - nearly half of the Palestinians killed in the operation - and among them There are 405 children and 229 women The horrific consequences expected Israel continued to apply this policy for weeks targeting house after house and family after family. "
"The method of using force during these raids is part of the policy set by senior political and military officials." These are not the practices of soldiers and pilots who violate the orders, but are a systematic practice according to the orders issued and subsequently reinforced by the opinions of judicial experts in the Military Prosecution. The army´s practices in the recent round of fighting were neither exceptional nor strange, nor would any of those involved in these raids be held accountable because in the eyes of the army they did nothing but execute the orders. "
"The policy of the past has repeatedly demonstrated how Israel can not use military force in Gaza without harming the population of the Gaza Strip and killing them, including women and children." As in other cases, Israel is trying here The interpretation of international humanitarian law in such a way as to justify the grave violation of human rights - in the cases presented here, the killing and wounding of civilians - to say that their actions are not contrary to the law, but Israel´s interpretations should be absolutely rejected because they are legally wrong and based on a morally distorted perception. "
In its report, the organization published testimonials of Palestinians who homes or relatives´ homes were shelled, causing a number of martyrs to be killed without warning. Where a number of witnesses spoke about the Al-Madhoun massacre, which killed a number of its members in the town of Beit Lahiya, as well as the bombing of the Zu´rob building in Rafah and the Sheikh Zayed Tower in Beit Lahia.
