Israel/Palestine: Unlawful Israeli Airstrikes Kill Civilians

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/07/15/israelpalestine-unlawful-israeli-airstrikes-kill-civilians

(Gaza) – Israeli air attacks in Gaza investigated by Human Rights Watch have been targeting apparent civilian structures and killing civilians in violation of the laws of war. Israel should end unlawful attacks that do not target military objectives and may be intended as collective punishment or broadly to destroy civilian property. Deliberate or reckless attacks violating the laws of war are war crimes, Human Rights Watch said.

Israeli attacks in Gaza since July 7, 2014, which Israeli officials said delivered more than 500 tons of explosives in missiles, aerial bombs, and artillery fire, killed at least 178 people and wounded 1,361 as of July 14, including 635 women and children, according to the United Nations. Preliminary UN reports identified 138 people, about 77 percent of those killed, as civilians, including 36 children, and found that the attacks had destroyed 1,255 homes, displacing at least 7,500 people.

“Israel’s rhetoric is all about precision attacks but attacks with no military target and many civilian deaths can hardly be considered precise,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Recent documented cases in Gaza sadly fit Israel’s long record of unlawful airstrikes with high civilian casualties.”

Palestinian armed groups also should end indiscriminate rocket attacks launched toward Israeli population centers. Israeli media reported that Palestinian armed groups have launched 1,500 rockets at Israel, wounding five Israeli civilians and destroying property.

[JDPriestly]

1. Are the Palestinian rockets aimed at Israeli military targets?

As I understand it, they are not. They are aimed to force Israelis to run for shelter.

[Violet_Crumble]

2. From the article....

Palestinian armed groups also should end indiscriminate rocket attacks launched toward Israeli population centers.

Unlike some here who rush to blame one side only and absolve the other of all blame, that was actually critical of wrong done on both sides. I can understand why you didn't 'see' that bit...

[JDPriestly]

3. I am critical of wrong done by both sides, but in this instance, Israel is in the right.

Overall, both sides need to negotiate a settlement. But Israel has the upper hand and feels most insecure, so it's up to Palestine to control its people and keep a cease-fire in order that negotiations can proceed.

Several countries have tried to negotiate peace. It has to happen.

Israel is not aggressive toward its other neighbors in the absence of a war or aggression toward Israel. Jordan does not seem to have a problem with Israeli bombs. It is only the countries in which militant Palestinians threaten and try to attack Israel that Israel retaliates against.

I know there is quite a fad on DU of taking the side of Palestine. But Palestine needs to use the aid and resources it receives from its many friends to make its country good and livable for its people. That is how Palestine can improve its situation. Not by trying to return to a previous time that never existed.

How many people after WWII were displaced, forced to flee countries in which their ancestors had lived for a long time. We have two in our family, two who married into our family, who were refugees after WWII. In one case, the entire family of the step-father of one of the two who married into our family was killed -- the entire family killed after and in the closing period of WWII. The one remaining family member was stateless and came to the US after a long wait.

The Palestinians are trying to continue to fight WWII. It won't work.

[Violet_Crumble]

4. I've never seen you criticise Israel for anything. Have you got some links to where you have? n/t

[Violet_Crumble]

6. Can I take it by yr silence you can't provide any examples of where you've criticised both sides?

So why would you say yr critical of both sides when yr only critical of one?

[shira]

5. Shameful that HRW refuses to condemn Hamas for human shielding

Hamas is trying to get as many Palestinians killed as possible, for PR purposes in order to smear Israel.

HRW knows that, refuses to condemn it, and is therefore complicit in supporting Hamas' vile strategy.

SHAME!