Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., January 20, 2009 Tevet 24, 5769 | | Israel Time: 10:42 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 07:59 10/01/2009
UN calls for war crimes probe into IDF shelling of civilian-occupied building in Gaza
By News Agencies
Tags: Gaza, Israel News, Israel 

With fighting all around them, Israel Defense Forces troops knocked on the door of the Samouni clan in Gaza City last weekend and told them to leave, directing them to the building owned by a relative. Twenty-four hours later, three shells slammed into the structure where dozens of people were huddling, according to survivor accounts Friday.

A newly released United Nations report said 30 people died in the shelling, citing four unidentified survivors who spoke by telephone. It called the shelling "one of the gravest incidents" to happen since Israeli infantry and armored troops entered Gaza Jan. 4 to quell Hamas rockets on Israel.

Other accounts given to The Associated Press and an Israeli human rights group provided lower casualty figures, but all agreed that shells hit the large, unfinished warehouse-like building a day after Israeli troops told them to get inside it for their safety.
Advertisement
The shelling allegedly occurred Monday, two days after Israel launched its ground operation into Gaza. It took place in the Zeitoun neighborhood, which suffered massive destruction from air strikes and shelling from the ground.

The report, by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, offered no evidence that the attack was deliberate.
The IDF military denied troops had forced civilians into a particular building, which was then shelled.

"We don't warn people to go to other buildings. This is not something we do," said spokeswoman Maj. Avital Leibovich. "We don't know this case. We don't know that we attacked it. It's not confirmed that we attacked it."

Allegra Pacheco, a senior UN official in Jerusalem who helped draft the report on the incident for OCHA, added: "We are not making an accusation of deliberate action" by the Israelis.

"We are just saying the facts. In Gaza, no civilian is safe. As long as violence continues, civilians will be injured and killed," she said.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said the UN report should be the basis for an investigation of "war crimes elements." Her spokesman, Rupert Colville, said the "war crimes elements" would refer to allegations that Israel impeded medical teams trying to care for wounded civilians and failed to care for those injured in the attack.

Pillay told an emergency meeting of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that any harm to Israeli civilians by Hamas rockets was unacceptable, but it did not excuse abuses carried out by Israeli forces in response.

Pillay went further in an interview with the British Broadcasting Corp., saying the incident "appears to have all the elements of war crimes."
If an investigation found that Israel intentionally attacked a building it knew was filled with civilians, that also could constitute war crimes.

UN human rights and humanitarian officials declined to comment on that possibility, saying a full examination of the facts was needed.

Another IDF spokesman, Maj. Jacob Dallal, said an investigation of the UN allegations showed the building was not deliberately targeted. "What we understand there was no pinpoint attack on that building in question. There is a lot of exchanges of fire. Gaza is a war zone. It's combat."

The incident highlighted the perilous situation of Gaza's 1.4 million residents, trapped in a narrow strip of land and wedged between two determined armed forces, Israel and Hamas.

Further limiting the ability to find out what happened, the casualties were sent to at least two hospitals, and surviving relatives were scattered through Gaza City and could not account for each other.

Palestinian journalists have not risked visiting the site where fighting continues, and Israel has not allowed foreign reporters into Gaza.

On Monday, the AP interviewed survivor Salah Samouni at the hospital. He said the family had been ordered to go to the building Sunday by Israeli forces to avoid nearby fighting.

As he spoke, Samouni was distraught, banging his head in mourning for of his three nephews whose bodies he brought to the hospital.

The UN report differed in detail from an account to the AP on Friday by Ahmad Samouni and from Meysa Samouni, who told her story to the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem. But they all concurred that IDF troops directed dozens of members of the Samouni clan into at least one building, which was shelled the next day.

Ahmad Samouni, 23, said Israeli troops forced him and his extended family to leave their three-story home on Sunday. Once on the road, another squad of soldiers told them to go into another building belonging to Wael Samouni - and stay there.

He said at least 60 people were in the building, while the UN said 110 people were inside when the shells hit.

Ahmad Samouni said a missile slammed into the door. The explosion threw him to the ground and he heard another two loud bangs, he said.

With the dust still swirling, he recalled fleeing in terror from the building, shouting to those still alive to follow him and leaving behind the bodies of his mother and at least eight other relatives.

In Meysa Samouni's account, the clan stayed there Sunday night without food or drink. In the morning, two relatives opened the door to search for other family members.

"The moment they left the house, a missile or shell hit them. Muhammed was killed on the spot, and the others were injured from shrapnel," she said, according to the transcript. "My husband went over to them to help, and then a shell or missile was fired onto the roof."

Ahmad Samouni said that when he lifted his head, he saw a gruesome sight: his mother's face was ripped off, his cousin was burned beyond recognition, and his sister-in-law's back was ripped open. Other relatives lay in heaps. Samouni said he counted nine unmoving bodies.

His face covered with blood and dust, Samouni said he stood and screamed "'Whoever is alive, come outside. If we raise our hands up, they won't shoot us, but we have to go.'"

Samouni said about 40 relatives walked out, many with hands raised. He said Israeli forces, watching them from nearby rooftops and positions on the ground, allowed them to pass, neither helping nor attacking them.
They made their way to the center of town, to the hospital or to other relatives.

The bodies of at least one Samouni man and his three children killed in the explosion were found in a Gaza City hospital. Desperate relatives pleaded with doctors to send rescue teams to find their kin in the rubble.

On Thursday, the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva accused Israel of "unacceptable" delays in letting rescue workers reach three Gaza City homes hit by shelling, where they eventually found 15 dead and 18 wounded, including young children too weak to stand.

The Red Cross statement referred to the same Zeitoun neighborhood, but it was unclear if it involved the incident with the Samouni clan, or if it was the same building.

The rescue team "found four small children next to their dead mothers in one of the houses. They were too weak to stand up on their own. One man was also found alive, too weak to stand up," the statement said. "In all, there were at least 12 corpses lying on mattresses" in one of the buildings, it added.

"The Israeli military must have been aware of the situation but did not assist the wounded," the Red Cross said. "Neither did they make it possible for us or the Palestine Red Crescent to assist the wounded."

The Israeli military said it is closely cooperating with international aid groups to assist civilians caught in the crossfire.

"The Israel Defense Forces are engaged in a battle with the Hamas terrorist organization that has deliberately used Palestinian civilians as human shields," a military statement said. "The IDF in no way intentionally targets civilians and has demonstrated its willingness to abort operations to save civilian lives and to risk injury in order to assist innocent civilians."


  • Three more IDF soldiers killed in fighting in Gaza Strip
  • UN Security Council calls for immediate Gaza truce
  • Olmert rejects 'unworkable' UN Gaza truce resolution
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Inciting imagery
    Yad Vashem Chair: Nazi imagery at anti-Israel rallies incites violence.
    Frames of Reality
    A social networking Web site links Israeli and Gaza journalists during wartime.
      1.   UN is full of it... 19:49  |  Edmond Dantesque 09/01/09
      2.   a.cold -blooded murder ,I would say,not just an incident!!!!! 20:10  |  trully innocent.... 09/01/09
      3.   UN LIES 20:13  |  D 09/01/09
      4.   There can be Blameworthy Conduct 20:14  |  Brad 09/01/09
      5.   UN Lwas: It is forbidden to hit civilian buildings in Gaza...but 20:42  |  Israeli Observer 09/01/09
      6.   IDF bombed building in Gaza 20:53  |  jose maria 09/01/09
      7.   AN independent investigation IS needed, Pal`s shoot at MDA ambula 21:27  |  John Phee 09/01/09
      8.   Sounds like a fake story to me 21:36  |  Gili 09/01/09
      9.   This report needs updating 21:45  |  La Cumparsita 09/01/09
      10.   To Gili: "Fake story"? IDF has a long history of such "incidents" 03:25  |  peacelover 10/01/09
      11.   If you wanted to cause civialian casualties 03:33  |  Scott L. Havsy 10/01/09
      12.   Concern 04:55  |  R 10/01/09
      13.   #9 The UN isn`t making it up, Gili 05:11  |  Johnboy 10/01/09
      14.   Where are the palestinien humanitarian 12:03  |  Lola 10/01/09
      15.   So glad the UN is doing something about 13:16  |  Janette 10/01/09
      16.   Please do end the war! 20:08  |  Jose Marcio 10/01/09
      17.   #15 Janette 21:08  |  Shepherd 10/01/09
      18.   #7: Firing at MDA Ambulances? 21:26  |  Chris Travers 10/01/09
      19.   #2: Fog of War... 21:29  |  Chris Travers 10/01/09
      20.   Remove the mote from your own eyes UN 21:46  |  observer 10/01/09
      21.   I never get published... 16:30  |  ENOUGH 11/01/09
      22.   What about Hammas? 16:12  |  Eitan F 19/01/09
      23.   The IDF risks Israeli lives to save innocent palastinians 16:25  |  Eitan F 19/01/09
     Read & React
    Bradley Burston: Mr. Obama, grant Hamas the freedom to fail
    Responses: 38
    David Grossman: Israel's success in Gaza only proves it is strong, not right
    Responses: 172
    A. Eldar: As Obama is sworn in, Israelis and Palestinians will be thinking 'no we can't'
    Responses: 27
    Nadav Shragai: Israel's leaders must apologize now for wicked Gaza pullout
    Responses: 10
    Editorial: Despite his mistakes, Bush will be remembered as a friend of Israel
    Responses: 5


    More Headlines
    10:12 Report: Meshal says Hamas was surprised by force IDF used against it in Gaza
    06:41 David Grossman / Israel's success in Gaza only proves it is strong, not right
    10:30 On inauguration day, few Americans in Israel catch Obama fever
    06:43 Akiva Eldar / As Obama is sworn in, Israelis and Palestinians will be thinking 'no we can't'
    07:06 Truce holds as South enjoys first rocket-free day since Gaza op began
    07:10 Lieberman to Haaretz: Hamas missiles will reach Tel Aviv within a year
    07:16 Top IDF officer defends Israel's actions in Gaza, says Hamas was defeated
    07:58 Israel pinning hopes for Hamas deal in Gaza on Egypt intel chief
    07:52 Prime Minister's Office acted alone in barring foreign reporters from Gaza
    04:26 Report: Olmert privately proposed division of Jerusalem to Arab leaders
    08:18 Amira Hass / Gazans say IDF troops ignored white flags and shot at them
    09:51 Yad Vashem Chair: Nazi imagery at anti-Israel rallies incites violence
    08:18 Psychologists to help students deal with war trauma as they return to school
    06:32 Survey: Gaza operation likely to increase voter turnout
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    Blue And White Forever Israel Army T-shirts
    Wear with Proud Donate the Soldiers Kit
    You can make a direct IMPACT!
    on the life of an Israeli soldier
    State of Israel Bonds
    During this time of market volatility, Israel bonds can help.
    SURF RAMBAM
    Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research.
    Summer Camp in Israel
    The best place for your children this summer
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved