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Last update - 17:37 27/02/2008
Rights group slams IDF probe into deadly Beit Hanun shelling
By The Associated Press
Tags: B'Tselem, shelling, IDF 

A prominent Israeli human rights group on Wednesday criticized an Israel Defense Forces probe that decided not to press charges in an errant artillery attack that killed 21 Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip in November 2006.

The Military Advocate General announced late Tuesday that it was closing the case after its investigation determined the deaths were the result of a "rare and severe" technical malfunction.

In a statement, the human rights group B'Tselem questioned whether the inquiry met proper legal standards: an investigation which is independent, effective, open to review and timely.
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The group also called on the IDF to take measures that would prevent similar incidents in the future, and urged it to compensate relatives of the dead.

The shelling was part of a large-scale IDF ground operation in northern Gaza against Palestinian rocket squads, and the civilian deaths provoked the wrath of international groups and human rights organizations. Since then, Israel has rarely used artillery against Gaza.

Fawzi Barhoum, spokesman for the ruling Hamas militant group in Gaza, said the results of the Israeli probe were not surprising.

"This decision is not strange, because every day and every minute dozens of innocent Palestinians are subject to this, either by shelling or by siege or by bullets," he said.

Palestinian militants have continued to launch rockets from Gaza at southern Israeli towns, with at least 30 Qassam rockets slamming in the western Negev Wednesday killing one person, fueling calls for another large military ground operation. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has ruled that out for now, pointing to the likelihood of high casualties on both sides.

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      1.   B`T selem , Remember Sodom 17:44  |  TOMY 27/02/08
      2.   Does such an entity deserve to survive? 17:55  |  Clickfool 27/02/08
      3.   What A Surprise 18:03  |  David 27/02/08
      4.   Surprise, surprise 18:08  |  Sean 27/02/08
      5.   IDF terrorists do target civilians, just too cowardly to admit it 18:12  |  anti-racist 27/02/08
      6.   this is the same mistake when Quna in lebanon and the UN 18:19  |  US person 27/02/08
      7.   And the palesrinians are shooting bouquets of flowers? 18:53  |  Edward H. 27/02/08
      8.   Clickfool 20:14  |  David Nigel Braham 27/02/08
      9.   Brit squaddies have murdered Iraqi prisoners and got acquit 20:14  |  Absolute Sweden 27/02/08
      10.   turkeys voting for christmas 20:33  |  gearoid 27/02/08
      11.   More Beit Hanouns will stop Kassams 20:36  |  bernard ross 27/02/08
      12.   Military Advocate General is War Criminal and should be executed 21:28  |  Yossi Cronenberg 27/02/08
      13.   War Sucks 21:28  |  Michael Angelo 27/02/08
      14.   This is unconscionable. Take Israel to the Hague! 21:38  |  Dutch 27/02/08
      15.   Who slams Hamas probe into Qassam killing of civilians? 21:44  |  Genuine Tosefta 27/02/08
      16.   The Only Possible Good To Come Out of This 21:54  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/02/08
      17.   Palestinians made it impossible for an independent investigation 21:55  |  Gili 27/02/08
      18.   Rights group is wrong 22:11  |  Yonatan 27/02/08
      19.   MOVE TO GAZA ALREADY! 23:11  |  stuart 27/02/08
      20.   Well, I`m shocked! 23:16  |  Johnboy 27/02/08
      21.   Israel is becoming one huge Penal Colony of IDF War Criminals 23:19  |  Uziel Hirschberger 27/02/08
      22.   # 15 You are meaning to say the IDF is a terrorist organisation? 23:26  |  Kris 27/02/08
      23.   Ruling confirms what we already knew: Israel totally corrupt 00:07  |  Chanalau, Tova 28/02/08
      24.   2 clickfool 02:09  |  leo 28/02/08
      25.   14 dutch 02:12  |  leo 28/02/08
      26.   Israel has no need for Peace now because of its power. 03:47  |  pal 28/02/08
      27.   Pointing out where this article makes an outright lie 04:26  |  Johnboy 28/02/08
      28.   The only good thing to come out of this is 21 less Palestinians. 07:58  |  Jamal Baroody 28/02/08
      29.   Get over it,there was a probe, case closed.End of story 08:31  |  Endless Spirit 28/02/08
      30.   No.24 Johnboy,the I.D.F. NEVER lies 08:41  |  Carlos Murphy 28/02/08
      31.   No investigation after killing 21 Palestinians... 08:56  |  Silvienne 28/02/08
      32.   #25 No, I said this ARTICLE lies, Carlos 09:14  |  Johnboy 28/02/08
      33.   IF THIS WAS ROCKETS INTO ISRAEL THE PALS WOULD CHEER 13:58  |  petra 28/02/08
      34.   # 31 Look for more mistakes 14:03  |  petra 28/02/08
      35.   Defence Forces Probe 15:52  |  Ros 28/02/08
      36.   Do we have to go through this again? 22:44  |  Michael 28/02/08
      37.   #34 Do I have to go thro this again, Michael 01:48  |  Johnboy 29/02/08
      38.   #32, PETRA, damned straight 12:06  |  VIPER 01/03/08
      39.   #10 Gearoid now that Ireland is over her troubles 14:17  |  petra 02/03/08
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