Israeli report defends actions during Gaza war

[bemildred]

JERUSALEM — An Israeli government report released Thursday insisted that "incessant" Hamas rocket attacks forced Israel to hit Gaza hard earlier this year, countering charges of war crimes but acknowledging that more than a dozen criminal inquiries are underway.

The 160-page report was called the first comprehensive Israeli government study of the punishing offensive in December and January that killed more than 1,100 Palestinians.

It was an attempt to answer charges from Palestinians, the U.N. and human rights groups that Israeli forces committed war crimes and violated international law during the three-week operation. Charges have included indiscriminate and intentional firing that killed civilians and destroyed property.

During the conflict, Israeli warplanes, tanks and artillery obliterated Palestinian government buildings and destroyed or damaged thousands of apartments, houses, businesses and factories. Israeli officials have acknowledged that their soldiers used additional firepower to keep their own casualties down.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jAwXQmJYZ4JbqpBX5U2wyPLArdngD99OTDL80

[Howardx]

1. the "they made us do it" defense

a favorite of 3 year olds everywhere.

[winter999]

2. I saw an analysis of the Gaza battlefield.

1) Hamas forced residents to remain in their homes/schools/hospitals. Civilians were not able to flee or seek shelter.

2) Hamas then used these homes/schools/hospitals as redoubts, bases, launch sites, and battle zones.

Result: Hamas got just what they wanted - lots of blood and sympathy for a crisis they initiated.

Gotta hand it to them - brilliant strategy.

For More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRQa5-gmqys&feature=player_embedded

[Sezu]

3. Well they convinced Howard X for sure

course that don't take much in these regards does it?

[shira]

7. it's a very convincing report - here it is

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Terrorism+and+Islamic+Fundamentalism-/Operation_in_Gaza-Factual_and_Legal_Aspects.htm

[azurnoir]

4. I think we've seen IDF's youtube channel's video's

this channel was opened on December 28 2008 the day after Israel started bombing Gaza as part of the Hasbara effort to make OCL more palatable to the public

[Scurrilous]

5. LOL

I like how they don't allow comments on their videos propaganda.

[Violet_Crumble]

6. Is the report available on the web?

I had a bit of a look but couldn't find it.

[bemildred]

9. I don't see it either.

It seems (largely) like a re-hash of past arguments, so it is true I'm not very motivated.
Edit: might not be out there in English yet.

[Violet_Crumble]

10. I wanted to see if it varied at all from the self-exoneration I've read about in the media....

I figured I'd print it out and read it during boring moments at work...

[bemildred]

8. Israel acknowledges use of white-phosphorus shells

Israel has admitted for the first time to “using munitions containing white phosphorus” during its offensive on the Gaza Strip in December 2008 and January 2009. But the Israeli government denied violating international law, claiming that such weapons were not fired into areas populated by civilians.

The admission came in an Israeli government report published Thursday, which confirmed earlier reports by the United Nations and several international human rights organizations. Those reports said that Israeli troops violated international law during the offensive.

A Human Rights Watch report released in March slammed Israel for firing white phosphorus shells over densely populated areas, including repeated attacks on the UN Relief and Works Agency headquarters in Gaza City.
Israel denied the report, saying its troops respected international law during the Gaza war.

The use of white phosphorus weapons to generate a smokescreen and cover troop movements is legally accepted, but the 1980 Geneva Convention forbids its use in densely populated areas.

http://www.france24.com/en/20090802-israel-acknowledges-use-white-phosphorus-shells-gaza-civilians