Rights Group: More than 50% of Gaza casualties weren't militants - Haaretz

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Wed., January 07, 2009 Tevet 11, 5769

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Last update - 00:00 03/03/2008

Rights Group: More than 50% of Gaza casualties weren't militants

By Haaretz Service

Tags: Gaza Strip, B'tselem, IDF

The human rights organization B'Tselem on Monday said in a statement that more than half of the Palestinians killed in the Gaza Strip in Israel Defense Forces operations in recent days did not take an active part in the fighting. This statement came after the IDF Chief of Staff issued a statement saying that 90 percent of those killed were in fact armed militants.

In their statement, B'Tselem outlined a string of incidents in which IDF allegedly killed innocent bystanders in the course of military operations aimed at battling the escalating rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel.

According to data gathered by B'Tselem, 106 Palestinians were killed between February 27 and march 3. Fifty four of them were civilians who didn't take part in the fighting, and 25 were under 18, the statement said.

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The human rights group cites as an example an incident that occurred on Thursday, in which four children were killed and two others were wounded in an Israel Air Force strike targeting rocket launchers. The children had been playing soccer in a street east of the Jabaliya refugee camp. The organization's inquiry into the incident revealed that the Qassam launcher may have been situated 100 meters from the site of the strike, and no militants were harmed in the strike.

Another incident cited by B'Tselem is the death of a brother and sister aged 16 and 17 while they were watching the violence from the window of their home east of Jabaliya. According to witnesses, the two were shot in the head and the chest.

B'Tselem expressed concern over the high number of civilians, especially children, who have been killed recently in the Gaza Strip. "Israel has a right to defend its citizens from rockets, which are in themselves a war crime, and it is what it must do," the organization wrote. "Israel must do so within the confines of the law, which must conform to the criteria of differentiation and proportionality as defined by international humanitarian law."

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1.	Why the `rights groups` just don`t get it.	19:01	\|	Mark	03/03/08

2.	according to the IDF every Palestinian is a militant by default	19:05	\|	Leona	03/03/08

3.	so what? to harbor `militants` is to be `miltants`.	19:08	\|	frenz	03/03/08

4.	B`Tselem - people you can trust - :)	19:16	\|	17	03/03/08

5.	Quislings	19:16	\|	Joshua	03/03/08

6.	How can this be right	19:25	\|	Jim	03/03/08

7.	B`Tselem are fools. Hamas is firing behind civilians	19:29	\|	Ken Jurist	03/03/08

8.	and israelis victims	19:44	\|	victor sondos	03/03/08

9.	GOD BLESS B`TSELEM AND ITS WORK	19:45	\|	JH	03/03/08

10.	B`tselem report	19:49	\|	kevin Morrow	03/03/08

11.	To B`tselem. Please explain	19:51	\|	Altalena	03/03/08

12.	Children	19:53	\|	Alfred	03/03/08

13.	B`Tselem`s rules of "gunmen"	19:54	\|	William	03/03/08

14.	B`Tseleem bunch of incipid grannies	19:58	\|	Adrian de Klerk	03/03/08

15.	Really makes no difference. Learn from US in WWII.	20:06	\|	common sense	03/03/08

16.	civilians by day....	20:09	\|	alan	03/03/08

17.	Guilty as charged	20:12	\|	Miche Norman	03/03/08

18.	B`Tselem	20:14	\|	Fredy Ross	03/03/08

19.	Insanity	20:16	\|	shai	03/03/08

20.	Do any B`tselem live in Sderot?	20:17	\|	Aaron Kinsberg	03/03/08

21.	Who knew?Sun Tzu that`s who knew.	20:19	\|	Gideon Reader	03/03/08

22.	Btselem traitors	20:19	\|	David	03/03/08

23.	12 women and 22 children dead out of 116	20:27	\|	Michael	03/03/08

24.	insulting B`Tselem	20:28	\|	bingbong	03/03/08

25.	It does not matter what they say	20:34	\|	Kris	03/03/08

26.	Guess what, 100% of Israeli casualties from Qassams are civilians	20:37	\|	Cynic	03/03/08

27.	where is the proof	20:37	\|	Seth J. Frantzman	03/03/08

28.	Who Cares	20:38	\|	Ron	03/03/08

29.	B`tselem	20:41	\|	MaryRose	03/03/08

30.	B`tselem says you must lay down and die Israel	20:45	\|	MaryRose	03/03/08

31.	100% of Sederot victims weren`t militants	20:47	\|	Burned Liberal	03/03/08

32.	surprise surprise	20:48	\|	phil	03/03/08

33.	Rights Group	20:49	\|	Oleg	03/03/08

34.	where is the proof	21:02	\|	Moe	03/03/08

35.	B`Tselem must know a Hamas with and without a weapon	21:02	\|	Shepherd	03/03/08

36.	"Official" figures of Hamas NOT lies?	21:03	\|	GZLives	03/03/08

37.	"the screams of traitor, quisling etc..."	21:06	\|	GZLives	03/03/08

38.	Clickdick	21:06	\|	Oleg	03/03/08

39.	people watching gunfight from window as a show?	21:07	\|	Mark	03/03/08

40.	OK, so does this confirm that Israel targeted rocket launchers?	21:07	\|	David	03/03/08

41.	I wouldn`t believe the IDF for one nano-second in a millenium	21:08	\|	Chalanau, Tova	03/03/08

42.	#18, Kris, did you read? Hamas comitting war crimes, not Israel	21:10	\|	David	03/03/08

43.	civilians	21:21	\|	marc	03/03/08

44.	Criminals and baby killers	21:24	\|	M.O.	03/03/08

45.	Im an Israeli citizen But very Ashamed!	21:26	\|	we breed hatred.	03/03/08

46.	If 60 years ago B` Tselem would have "ruled" Israel.......	21:27	\|	Swiss (Dino)	03/03/08

47.	They HIDE among civilians!	21:40	\|	Mike	03/03/08

48.	"did not take an active part in the fighting"	21:49	\|	Weasel Radar	03/03/08

49.	The intent of killing	21:53	\|	Sam	03/03/08

50.	Shoot the messenger	21:56	\|	Aaron Levitt	03/03/08

51.	This is to be expected, but is unfortunate	21:57	\|	Shlomo	03/03/08

52.	Fighters when alive suddenly become civilians after they`re dead	22:01	\|	McQueen	03/03/08

53.	civilian casualties: blame Hamas terrorists	22:01	\|	notsurprised	03/03/08

54.	Perfidy	22:02	\|	MaryRose	03/03/08

55.	Proportionate response	22:18	\|	Gilbert Held	03/03/08

56.	27 M.O.you forgot to add that our heroes turned & ran when they	22:18	\|	lakshmi	03/03/08

57.	my theory	22:20	\|	vik	03/03/08

58.	B`Tselem	22:20	\|	Dan	03/03/08

59.	B`tselem	22:37	\|	Reuven	03/03/08

60.	Palestinians terrorists violate Internat.Humanit.Law	22:39	\|	sam	03/03/08

61.	50% non-militant	22:41	\|	shimon Apisdorf	03/03/08

62.	The hypocracy of btselem	22:43	\|	Adrian de Klerk	03/03/08

63.	So B`Sheker is embedded with Hamas and knows everything	22:56	\|	Genuine Tosefta	03/03/08

64.	michael in the uk "i`d be amazed if among all the chaos and	23:12	\|	terrornator	03/03/08

65.	So B`Sheker is embedded with Hamas and knows everything	23:14	\|	Genuine Tosefta	03/03/08

66.	So B`Sheker is embedded with Hamas and knows everything	23:15	\|	Genuine Tosefta	03/03/08

67.	So B`Sheker is embedded with Hamas and knows everything	23:15	\|	Genuine Tosefta	03/03/08

68.	So B`Sheker is embedded with Hamas and knows everything	23:17	\|	Genuine Tosefta	03/03/08

69.	betsalem and pure gobbledegook	23:17	\|	v hardman	03/03/08

70.	DOES B`TSELEM REALLY EXIST?	23:22	\|	VICTIMSofARAB TERROR	03/03/08

71.	i bet any palestinian that died of natural causes,car wrecks,	23:25	\|	terrornator	03/03/08

72.	B`Tselem	23:28	\|	Dan	03/03/08

73.	mre than 50% gaza casualties not militants	23:48	\|	mark saffer	03/03/08

74.	These guys are the Erev Rav, the voice of Hamas	23:58	\|	S Judah	03/03/08

75.	TO ALFRED	00:01	\|	ANWAR	04/03/08

76.	TO SETH FRANTZMAN	00:04	\|	ANWAR	04/03/08

77.	50% were militants, the other 50% were terrorists	00:07	\|	McQueen	04/03/08

78.	TO ADRIAN DE KLERK	00:09	\|	ANWAR	04/03/08

79.	@ 27 Without weapons my friend those duds of human beings	00:10	\|	Karl	04/03/08

80.	rights group	00:11	\|	Mark	04/03/08

81.	#19: 7 years Quassams kills 90% less civils than IDF in few days	00:15	\|	Cynic2	04/03/08

82.	Murder	00:19	\|	Btsalel	04/03/08

83.	lets just admit it	00:22	\|	B.	04/03/08

84.	The whole world has to take care of Shiitic mentality	00:24	\|	Karl	04/03/08

85.	Any civilian killed is Hamas Responsibility	00:26	\|	Shaka	04/03/08

86.	B`Tselem is never heard from when Jews are killed	00:31	\|	* BEN JABO	04/03/08

87.	B`Tselem should re-locate their HQ to Sderot	00:33	\|	* BEN JABO	04/03/08

88.	B`Tseleem	00:34	\|	herry	04/03/08

89.	rockets only like like maximum 5 kilos:S	00:49	\|	the truth	04/03/08

90.	Thank you New Israel Fund for funding B`tselem !	00:55	\|	Yisrael	04/03/08

91.	rights group	00:57	\|	pete	04/03/08

92.	gaza	01:25	\|	desmondsloan	04/03/08

93.	# 37 - Anwar	01:30	\|	Greywolf	04/03/08

94.	"Human Shields"	01:59	\|	Tag	04/03/08

95.	Dead civilians? Not!!!	02:01	\|	ballistic	04/03/08

96.	And exactly who cares?	02:11	\|	Mark Lincoln	04/03/08

97.	Hamas is fully aware	02:16	\|	Mark Lincoln	04/03/08

98.	Anwar of Beirut...it is a sad state of affairs	02:28	\|	Lynn	04/03/08

99.	Shame on Ha`aretz	02:59	\|	Pat	04/03/08

100.	To Anwar re: Alfred	03:34	\|	Ralph	04/03/08

101.	KILL ALL TERRORISTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!	03:34	\|	Simeon	04/03/08

102.	no surprise at the response to this story	04:11	\|	arthurdecco	04/03/08

103.	#48 - DOES THAT INCL. THE IDF TERRORISTS?	05:13	\|	PADDY	04/03/08

104.	human shields, legitimate targets	05:45	\|	David	04/03/08

105.	Simeon`s Call for Murder	06:06	\|	Jim Brooks	04/03/08

106.	ZIONISM = NAZISM	06:09	\|	FREE PALESTINE	04/03/08

107.	B`Tselem wants Peace. What do you want?	06:18	\|	Lisa	04/03/08

108.	blame the WORLD, but no thineself	06:42	\|	pluto	04/03/08

109.	good	07:12	\|	dave	04/03/08

110.	read what the medical director of gaza hospital says which proves	07:54	\|	ralph	04/03/08

111.	gaza hospital medical director contradicts H.R. groups read on	07:55	\|	ralph	04/03/08

112.	50% collateral civilian deaths is safest army in history!	07:56	\|	Dr. L. Brnd	04/03/08

113.	to Pluto #49	07:59	\|	John Williams	04/03/08

114.	B`Tselem - Agents of Hamas?	08:34	\|	Nick	04/03/08

115.	0% of Sderot qassam victims were militants	08:41	\|	Susan	04/03/08

116.	Civilian death happens...it`s a fact	08:44	\|	Daniel	04/03/08

117.	Gazans are Hamas shields	10:31	\|	Daniel	04/03/08

118.	A coincidence that nearly %100 of B`Tselem are Muslim?	11:42	\|	Mike	04/03/08

119.	Who`s ًwhose worst enemy?	13:09	\|	Moe	04/03/08

120.	#18qnd#42 Israel against the UN	14:16	\|	Elizabeth Mcwartz	04/03/08

121.	Lynn # 98 shifting the blame as usual	14:22	\|	American in NY	04/03/08

122.	Mark Lincoln # 97	14:30	\|	American in NY	04/03/08

123.	More than 50% of Israelis murdered weren`t militants either.	14:39	\|	petra	04/03/08

124.	B`Tselem	14:41	\|	Ilana	04/03/08

125.	#26 RIGHT ON!!!!	14:41	\|	petra	04/03/08

126.	# 28 RON CORRECT. BUT, DO THEY CARE?	14:42	\|	petra	04/03/08

127.	# 52 LOL TRUE!!!	14:44	\|	petra	04/03/08

128.	# 56 Lasky Expect more to come, sucker.	14:47	\|	petra	04/03/08

129.	Anwar, the PALS didn`t exist before 67	14:57	\|	petra	04/03/08

130.	Endless war	14:57	\|	Oliv`	04/03/08

131.	And the alternative is ...? Arab repatriation	15:52	\|	Johnson	04/03/08

132.	100% of intended kassam victims are civilians	16:12	\|	julian	04/03/08

133.	They Wrote the Book	16:35	\|	Knott Bushman	04/03/08

134.	TO JOSHUA #5	17:16	\|	Steve Beikirch	04/03/08

135.	#133 Beikirch Thousands??	18:01	\|	* BEN JABO	04/03/08

136.	It is not a war crime to fight an occupation	18:46	\|	Marilyn	04/03/08

137.	Shepherd	18:50	\|	Marilyn	04/03/08

138.	Wrongs Group Not Worth Listening To	20:26	\|	Efox	04/03/08

139.	re: Marilyn	20:29	\|	Efox	04/03/08

140.	TO DANIEL #116	20:36	\|	Steve Beikirch	04/03/08

141.	Efox "Land of your ancestors"?	00:59	\|	PADDY	05/03/08

142.	It`s NOT a new world	01:24	\|	arthurdecco	05/03/08

143.	#140 Beikirch to Daniel	06:49	\|	* BEN JABO	05/03/08

144.	TO BEN JABO #143	20:23	\|	Steve Beikirch	05/03/08

145.	#144 Beikirch	21:27	\|	* BEN JABO	05/03/08

146.	#135-2 Beikirch - some specifics if you please	21:56	\|	* BEN JABO	05/03/08

147.	re: PADDY	22:36	\|	Efox	05/03/08

148.	high civilian death toll	23:14	\|	anna	05/03/08

149.	re: anna	23:58	\|	Efox	05/03/08

150.	#135-2 Beikurch - Why the heistancy?	06:32	\|	* BEN JABO	07/03/08

151.	re: anna	01:07	\|	Efox	08/03/08

152.	That`s just the way it is and it`s ARABS` fault	06:29	\|	Eli	15/03/08

153.	Human Rights Group? Yeah, Right !	22:59	\|	Brant	17/04/08

154.	This is your Reality	01:10	\|	Samer Dallasheh	14/06/08

155.	settlents are illegal; internationally condemned	02:50	\|	g	16/10/08

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