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"The extremely heavy civilian casualties and the massive damage to civilian property require serious introspection on the part of Israeli society," B'Tselem wrote, adding that it considers the army's internal probe as insufficient.
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middl...8245433.stm
Page last updated at 06:12 GMT, Wednesday, 9 September 2009 07:12 UK
Gaza death toll 'was much higher'
An Israeli human rights group says many more Palestinian civilians were killed in the Israeli military's campaign this year in Gaza than the army admits.
B'Tselem said detailed research showed that out of 1,400 Palestinian deaths, 773 were civilians - many of them children.
This contradicts an Israeli army report stating that fewer than 300 civilians died in the fighting earlier this year.
Israel launched the assault to halt rocket attacks from Hamas-run Gaza.
Amnesty International has already accused Israel of having committed war crimes during its offensive.
B'Tselem said the findings had been compiled during months of research, including visits to the families of those killed.
The group said the results should compel the Israeli government to launch an independent investigation into its three-week offensive.
Earlier this year the Israeli army said that 1,166 Gazans were killed in the conflict.
The army said this figure included 709 militants from Hamas and other groups, and 295 non-combatants.
According to B'Tselem, 1,387 Palestinians were killed.
It says that figure includes 773 civilians, 330 combatants, 248 Palestinian police officers - whom Israel counts in its figure of militants - and 36 people whose role was unclear.
The group estimates 252 people under the age of 16 died - the military puts that figure at 89.
"The extremely heavy civilian casualties and the massive damage to civilian property require serious introspection on the part of Israeli society," B'Tselem wrote, adding that it considers the army's internal probe as insufficient.
The Israeli army has admitted "rare mishaps" during the campaign but denies troops violated international humanitarian law.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the report, but has previously said the aim of the campaign "was to target the Hamas terror organisation and not citizens of the Gaza Strip."
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middl...8245433.stm
Page last updated at 06:12 GMT, Wednesday, 9 September 2009 07:12 UK
Gaza death toll 'was much higher'
An Israeli human rights group says many more Palestinian civilians were killed in the Israeli military's campaign this year in Gaza than the army admits.
B'Tselem said detailed research showed that out of 1,400 Palestinian deaths, 773 were civilians - many of them children.
This contradicts an Israeli army report stating that fewer than 300 civilians died in the fighting earlier this year.
Israel launched the assault to halt rocket attacks from Hamas-run Gaza.
Amnesty International has already accused Israel of having committed war crimes during its offensive.
B'Tselem said the findings had been compiled during months of research, including visits to the families of those killed.
The group said the results should compel the Israeli government to launch an independent investigation into its three-week offensive.
Earlier this year the Israeli army said that 1,166 Gazans were killed in the conflict.
The army said this figure included 709 militants from Hamas and other groups, and 295 non-combatants.
According to B'Tselem, 1,387 Palestinians were killed.
It says that figure includes 773 civilians, 330 combatants, 248 Palestinian police officers - whom Israel counts in its figure of militants - and 36 people whose role was unclear.
The group estimates 252 people under the age of 16 died - the military puts that figure at 89.
"The extremely heavy civilian casualties and the massive damage to civilian property require serious introspection on the part of Israeli society," B'Tselem wrote, adding that it considers the army's internal probe as insufficient.
The Israeli army has admitted "rare mishaps" during the campaign but denies troops violated international humanitarian law.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on the report, but has previously said the aim of the campaign "was to target the Hamas terror organisation and not citizens of the Gaza Strip."
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Re: Gaza death toll 'was much higher'
Thu, October 15, 2009 - 6:50 AMthe IDF is always more violent than necessary. They have no sense of proportion.
They treat the few trouble makers as if there was some major war effort and not the handful of rock throwers it is.
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Re: Gaza death toll 'was much higher'
Sat, October 17, 2009 - 11:17 AM<<<They treat the few trouble makers as if there was some major war effort and not the handful of rock throwers it is. >>
8000+ rockets fired at civilians is not a "handful of rock throwers"
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Re: Gaza death toll 'was much higher'
Sun, October 18, 2009 - 9:37 PMCome to think about it, so was the likely death tool in the US invasion of Panama.
Goes to show you the plight of those without money to bribe Congress…
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Re: Gaza death toll 'was much higher'
Thu, October 15, 2009 - 2:40 PMnews.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middl...8309494.stm
UN body debates Gaza war report
Members of the UN Human Rights Council are debating whether to endorse a report into the Israeli offensive in Gaza last winter.
The report by veteran South African judge Richard Goldstone accuses both Israel and Hamas of war crimes.
Israel rejects the Goldstone report as biased. Its UN envoy says endorsing it would be a setback for peace hopes.
The UN human rights chief has backed the report and called on both sides to investigate the alleged crimes.
"A culture of impunity continues to prevail in the occupied territories and in Israel," Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said at the opening of the special meeting of the UN Human Rights Council.
She called for "impartial, independent, prompt and effective investigations into reported violations of human rights and humanitarian law."
'Setback for peace'
Israel has already come under pressure from its allies - including the US, UK and France - to investigate the UN allegations.
But Israel's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Aharon Leshno Yaar, said the resolution threatened to "set back hopes for peace".
The text of the draft resolution says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon should monitor Israeli and Palestinian compliance with the report.
It also contains a condemnation of Israel's policies in East Jerusalem, another issue likely to divide the Council.
A vote is expected on Friday.
At its first debate two weeks ago, the Council decided to delay its response for six months.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at first agreed to this under pressure from the US aimed at getting the Middle East peace process back on track.
But after much public criticism at home, he demanded that the debate be reopened.
Report findings
The Goldstone report accuses Israel of using disproportionate force and deliberately harming civilians during the 22-day conflict which began on 27 December 2008.
Palestinian Hamas militants are accused of indiscriminate rocket fire at Israeli civilians.
The report urges the Security Council to refer allegations to the International Criminal Court if either side fails to investigate suspects within six months.
Israel has rejected the evidence, saying it has already investigated its troops' conduct, clearing most of the subjects of wrongdoing. Hamas has also denied committing war crimes.
Israeli military action destroyed thousands of homes, hundreds of factories and 80 official buildings in Gaza.
Palestinians and human rights groups say more than 1,400 people were killed in the violence between 27 December 2008 and 16 January 2009, more than half of them civilians.
Israel puts the number of deaths at 1,166 - fewer than 300 of them civilians. Three Israeli civilians and 10 Israeli soldiers were also killed.
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Re: Gaza death toll 'was much higher'
Thu, October 15, 2009 - 2:47 PM
