Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., March 05, 2008 Adar1 28, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:40 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Rights group: Close to half of Palestinian fatalities in IDF operation were civilians By News Agencies The human rights organization B'Tselem said yesterday 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. Advertisement In their statement, B'Tselem outlined a string of incidents in which the IDF allegedly killed innocent bystanders in the course of military operations aimed at battling the escalating rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into communities in the western Negev. 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. 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. Concern over deaths of minors 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." Bookmark to del.icio.us   UN hushes Human Rights Council observes moment of silence for Gaza 'martyrs.' Hitler's sign Document shows that British spies hired a flamboyant astrologer in World War II.

Today Online Bradley Burston: Nine immoral solutions for Gaza - a guide Responses: 168 Israel: Latest sanctions against Iran not enough Responses: 184 Obama says United States should not meet with Hamas Responses: 114 Nehemia Shtrasler: There is no way out but to talk to Hamas Responses: 94 Researcher: Moses was tripping at Mount Sinai Responses: 178 More Headlines 23:48 Palestinians: IDF kills infant, top Islamic Jihad man in S. Gaza 02:23 IDF officers: We faced fierce but unorganized resistance in Gaza 20:39 UN rights body holds moment of silence for Gaza 'martyrs' 02:33 Race to the White House: The big election questions 02:19 What if seaweed could power the world? 20:18 Obama and Clinton neck and neck in possibly last U.S. primary 00:02 Thousands protest IDF Gaza offensive in Umm al-Fahm 21:48 From Superman to Sabraman, museum exhibits Jewish comics 18:42 Deputy Defense Min. orders louder rocket warning siren in Ashkelon 01:54 Billboards show Green organizations they can't take Shas for granted 18:25 Hamas lets Fatah man who lost two kids in IDF raid visit their graves Previous Editions Select Day 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb

Special Offers Advertisement Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Marina Royale Herzelia Pituach Your Luxurious Suite While Staying in Israel Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations 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 |

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