Israel: Misuse of Drones Killed Civilians in Gaza (HRW Report)

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Israeli attacks with guided missiles fired from aerial drones killed civilians during the recent Gaza fighting in violation of the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The attacks with one of the most precise weapons in Israel's arsenal killed civilians who were not taking part in hostilities and were far from any fighting.

The 39-page report, "Precisely Wrong: Gaza Civilians Killed by Israeli Drone-Launched Missiles," details six incidents resulting in 29 civilian deaths, among them eight children. Human Rights Watch found that Israeli forces failed to take all feasible precautions to verify that these targets were combatants, as required by the laws of war, or that they failed to distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups have reported a total of 42 drone attacks that killed civilians, 87 in all, during the fighting in December 2008 and January 2009.

"Drone operators can clearly see their targets on the ground and also divert their missiles after launch," said Marc Garlasco, senior military analyst at Human Rights Watch and co-author of the report. "Given these capabilities, Israel needs to explain why these civilian deaths took place."

"Precisely Wrong" is based on field research in Gaza, where Human Rights Watch researchers interviewed victims and witnesses, examined attack sites, collected missile debris for testing, and reviewed medical records. The Israel Defense Forces turned down repeated Human Rights Watch requests for a meeting and did not respond to questions submitted in writing."

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[wurzel]

1. Palestinian rocket attacks killing Israeli civilians = Terrorism

Israeli drone attacks killing Palestinian civilians = collateral damage. The difference we are told by the Israeli government is that the Israelis don't really mean to kill civilians. Yeah. Right!

[shira]

2. IDF doubts credibility of Gaza report

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1246296537077&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

how does HRW know that there were no military targets in their 6 documented cases? they're relying on Hamas filtered testimony?

[azurnoir]

3. But Israeli filtered information is 110% reliable? n/t

[shira]

4. HRW's evidence is nothing more than hearsay....no hard proof of anything

of course, that's more than enough evidence for you.

:eyes:

[azurnoir]

5. Israels proof? it says so LOL n/t

[shira]

7. Israel isn't the one making the accusation.....HRW needs real evidence to support their claims

otherwise HRW has no business going public with "evidence" that would be thrown out of any courtroom.

[azurnoir]

11. But this is not a courtroom

but I know only the IDF is honest isn't that right?

[shira]

12. then why condemn with no evidence....you may as well have typed out the HRW report in your kitchen.

Your own creation would constitute just as much 'evidence' for a case against Israel than HRW's.

see the point now?

[azurnoir]

14. Actually I confess I did write it oh ya got me

but seriously what would convince oh I know a written confession from someone in IDF? Oh wait not that either so just what acrually I do not really care to convince you

[Sezu]

6. As long as it demonizes Israel it's good enough for

many here. Welcome to their eternal Jenin moment.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. Without both sides, how could anyone know what really happened?

HRW went with one side of the story and without required additional data, as a result its a another discredited report that makes them look stupid.

[shira]

10. doesn't matter.....they get funding precisely b/c of their Israel-bashing

don't look for them to stop making asses of themselves anytime soon.

this is their bread and butter.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

17. By looking at the evidence, of course.

The fact that Israel refused to cooperate is no more exculpatory than a common criminal choosing to take the 5th is.

[shira]

18. what evidence?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

19. Did you *read* the OP?

Your answer is right there, in black and white, in the last paragraph.

[shira]

20. yeah...."field research"....like the kind Garlasco led at Gaza beach 2006, al-Dura, etc..all bogus

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. Except without IDF participation key elements can not be proven

Why a strike was launched is key to what HRW claims to be investigating

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Correct conclusions can not be reached without adequate evidence

Unfortunately, without IDF participation, the reason for the launches can not be known. Also important details as to how the strikes were done. Therefore the conclusions regardless of what they are, can not be valid without that key information. Add to that there are factually incorrect items in what they published about capabilities and HRW has embarrassed themselves again and hurt their side once again.

[shira]

13. HRW is infamous for making asses of themselves....but bashing Israel = $$$

so they're not likely to stop anytime soon.

[Alamuti Lotus]

15. There was no "misuse", that kind of soft language coddles proven murderers

This is the same air force that dropped 4,000,000 cluster bombs on Lebanon in the last few hours of the Israeli defeat in 2006. What else but this kind of behavior could really be expected?

[shira]

16. 4 million cluster bombs and still a 1:1 combatant/civilian kill ratio.....wow, amazing.

for deliberate murderers, they must have the WORST aim ever. Imagine the damage Hamas could do with 4 million cluster bombs on Israel with no bomb shelters or fortification. I'm guessing at least 10's of thousands dead? How about you?

Same for Gaza....tons of ordinance dropped in a very densely populated area, and around a 1:1 combatant/civilian kill ratio there too. One would expect Israeli murderers to have slightly better aim. I'm betting with the same weapons and same amount of ordinance dumped across the green line, Hamas would have done a much more efficient job killing Israelis.

Big waste of $$$ for Israel to be dropping so much ordinance and not kill in the 10's or 100's of thousands.

:eyes: