Israeli NGO: Hamas 'used civilians as human shields' in Gaza
Goldstone report showed 'systematic pro-Palestinian bias', says Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center.
By Haaretz Service and Jonny Singer Tags: Goldstone report Israel news Gaza IDFHamas used Palestinian civilians as human shields during last year's Gaza war, according to a study published Monday by the Israeli non-governmental orgainzation the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center.
The NGO says the 500-page document aims to highlight the "failings" of the UN's Goldstone report into Israel's three week Gaza offensive last year, which accused both Israel and Hamas of war crimes.
Both the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security service, which had declined to testify in the Goldstone inquiry, provided evidence for the study, which also drew on interrogations of Hamas militants and information from the Hamas-run media, as well documents seized by Israel during the offensive.
In its findings, the ITIC claimed Hamas fighters used children to mask their escape from combat zones.
The study says that Hamas used mosques, hospitals and schools as to store weapons and as rocket launch sites. Militants also booby-trapped a school and exchanged their uniforms for civilian clothing during fighting with Israeli troops.
The UN report, compiled by retired South African judge Richard Goldstone, was a "conscious attempt to serve a central, premeditated thesis", the ITIC said, accusing the UN of a "complete lack of balance" and "systematic pro-Palestinian bias".
According to the ITIC, most of the 1,166 Palestinians killed during Operation Cast Lead were Hamas fighters.
"At least 60 percent of the casualties were terrorist operatives actively engaged in the fighting," it said.
Goldstone's report, in contrast, estimated the portion of fighters killed at 20 per cent, with the remainder civilians.
The report did not examine Israeli actions during the fighting, which were severely criticized by Goldstone, instead concentrating on Hamas in an effort to contrast "the main findings of the Goldstone report with the factual findings".
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The report can be found at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/12session/A-HRC-12-48.pdf The allegations against Hamas are on pages 346 to 365. Read the whole report--you'll find it very interesting and you will know better how to respond.
Quote from the ITIC website: The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center opened in 2001. It is part of the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC) , an NGO dedicated to the memory of the fallen of the Israeli Intelligence Community and it is located near Gelilot , north of Tel Aviv. It is headed by (Col. Ret.) Dr. Reuven Erlich. In other words, it has no more credibility then the Israeli government or the IDF. It is NOT impartial. And the report is one-sided. Period. Until Israel submits to an impartial quest for truth, the allegations of serious war crimes being committed in Gaza will hang over its head and the IDF.
This twaddle will not distract from the IDF prosecuting its own for PROVEN human shield use.
"Yechida Kravi" Tried googling this; is it a military term, couldn't find it?
what about the IDF using palestinians as shields for home raids? Hyopcrisy needs to stop.
was to avoid having you in my Yechida Kravi, I would do anything to prevent having you at my back I know what the enemy looks like, you in an IDF uniform is quite another matter Do I watch my front, or my back?
"Both the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security service, which had declined to testify in the Goldstone inquiry, provided evidence for the study", why are we NOT surprised?
but Israeli claims are not worth the paper they are written on.
In the past human shields were always your Enemies people. Like Britian did when they tied Arabs to their supply trains and in many documented cases by the IDF now !Would Israel be so Iron fisted if that were the case now? PEACE NEVER?
Israelis, IDF and the Jewish State of Israel . in the UN's Goldstone Report .
"And I would love to have taken Goldstone on a tour of Sderot, unlike you I actually know the place, but the thing is BEN the government didn`t want him there!!!!" Why not?
The Hamas war crimes as reported by The Goldstone report are those Hamas war crimes committed by Hamas only against arabpals . Those Hamas war crimes committed by Hamas against arabpals are UN's Goldstone report downplayed to common law related to police matters ranging from insignificant to mild. The Goldstone report accuse "rockets" of war crimes against Israelis. When refering to those "rockets" launching , The UN's Goldstone report does not accuse Hamas. Those "rockets" are UN's Goldstone report launched by "palestinians militants" or "group".
of this latest and no doubt highly-skewed and selective offering? The bottom line reason is that Israel is consistently 'economical with the truth', relying instead on evasion and clumsy, made-up hasbara. And a reputation like that tends to stick to everything you do for years ahead.
Some "Mr Justice"!
This is laughable. I mean does anyone really think the world will look at this as anything but damage control. By not co-operating with Richard Goldstone Israel has NO credibility. Of course this report finds Hamas used children for human sheilds, while not mentioning any similar events which occurred by Israel IDF personnell. Just how stupid do you think the rest of the world is? This report is nothing more then a sad attempt to distract from reality. In other words just more of the same from people who are so entrenched in their views that they are no longer able to even see the truth, without having to twist and contort it into something they can live with. Peace may actually be easier in the long run. I think the majority of Israeli's understand and accept this position, Hopefully the Israeli government can catch up soon.
Ben just because you bought a timeshare in the West Bank doesn't mean you can claim to live in Israel. Is there no news in the USA you can have a right wing rant about? And I would love to have taken Goldstone on a tour of Sderot, unlike you I actually know the place, but the thing is BEN the government didn't want him there!!!!
...designed a priori to discredit Goldstone... ...it may be an NGO, but it's sentiments and intentions are totally biased... ...it's not as if this report is merely filling in lacunae in the Goldstone report, which would be timely, but rather seeking ways to him trip up ... ...it has a political purpose of its own, especially popping up just at this time...
"Israel NGO" says it all. The world no longer trusts Israel, and certainly will not respond to these cheap lies.
and saving Israel from the rest of the planet. Keep up the good work benji. You are priceless.
Instead of your usual sarcasm and negativity, you could have volunteered and done something useful, such as taking Goldstone on a persoanl tour of Sderot Your preference is to sequester yourself in the Kibbutz, complaining about everything and anything My condolences to your better half (she's got to better than you, to put up with your nonsense)
The N stands for New?
I challenge Haaretz to check the facts of this report and have a balanced conclusion about its findings. As I never heard anything in Haaretz about the whereabouts of the Hamas leadership during the Gazaop.
Goldtone "The Hanging Judge" Hamas publicly stated they were using their own people as Human Shields, Goldstone was too biased and stupid to understand http://www.jihadwatch.org/2008/03/hamas-mp-we-used-women-and-children-as-human-shields.html I pity the poor souls that were judged by him in South Africa
Should of let Goldstone into Sderot, 'damage control' is just doing more damage. The people who think war crimes were committed are not going to change their opinion by reading a report from an Israeli org. or the IDF.
It's all very well Israeli organisations doing pro-Israeli reports. But you're preaching to the converted. Send these reports to CNN, SKY NEWS, UN...etc...everyone you can think of. What's the point of it, if it will just sit on a shelf in Israel, in Hebrew?
goes to show.