Killing 21 civilians by Israeli troops was ‘not a war crime’ – says Israeli Army

» Mark Moloney

Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem said it is unacceptable that the Israeli Defence Forces investigate themselves in relation to alleged war crimes

THE Israeli military have cleared their troops of any wrongdoing over the 5 January 2009 killing of 21 Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.

According to witnesses, the Israeli troops who had launched a ground invasion of the coastal territory ordered around 100 members of the extended Samouni clan to gather inside one building and not to leave. The next morning, three members of the family attempted to leave the house. As they did so, Israeli troops fired a shell at them, killing one person and wounding two others.

A few seconds later, the Israeli Army's Givati Brigade ('Highland Brigade') opened up on the building, hitting it with shells and missiles and causing it to collapse in on itself, killing 20 more people, including a number of women and nine children. Despite pleas from the Red Cross to be allowed to aid the wounded, the Israeli Army prevented any humanitarian groups from removing the injured for almost 48 hours.

After an investigation into the killings, the Israeli military advocate general “found the accusations [of war crimes] groundless” and that none of those involved “acted in a negligent manner”.

Israeli human rights organisation B’Tselem said:

“It is unacceptable that no one is found responsible for an action of the army that led to the killing of 21 uninvolved civilians.”

The group said it is unacceptable that the Israeli Defence Forces continue to investigate themselves in relation to alleged war crimes and called for the creation of an external investigating mechanism.

Two soldiers from the same Israeli Army brigade were earlier convicted of using a nine-year-old Palestinian boy as a human shield. They did not receive a prison sentence. According to reports, the soldiers forced the child to open a number of bags they feared might contain explosives.