Israeli Human Rights Group: Most Fatalities In Gaza Were Civilians

During Operation Cast Lead, 1,387 Palestinians were killed; the vast majority of these were civilians, and 320 of these were children. According to the new report 773 of all fatalities were non-combatants and did not take part in the hostilities, 330 were recognised as combatants and 248 were police officers, the majority of whom were killed in aerial bombing of police stations at the outset of the offensive. The role of the remaining 36 people killed was unclear.

During Operation Cast Lead, which began on December 27 2008, there were three Israeli civilian deaths, six Israeli soldiers killed by Palestinian fire and four killed by friendly fire.

However, according to IDF statements during the Gaza offensive 1,166 Palestinian died, including 709 Hamas combatants and 295 civilians. The IDF was unable to determine the role of 162 of its causalities. Further, the IDF identified only 89 of the civilians killed as women and children under the age of 16. This differs significantly from B’Tselem’s findings, which report that 320 minors were killed, including 252 children less then 16-years-old, and a further 109 of the civilian victims were women.

The investigation made by B’Tselem is based on death certificates, photos and testimonies, while IDF refused to make its own list or sources available.

Nevertheless the discrepancies between the numbers of fatalities are unacceptable.

There are many doubts around whether Operation Cast Lead was in line with international law and recognised principles of war. Israeli soldiers have been accused of indiscriminate attacks on civilians, using Palestinian children as human shields, bombing medical buildings and using white phosporus and DIME bombs. According to the World Health Organization 34 health facilities, 8 hospitals and 26 primary health care clinics were damaged over the course of the offensive: the Geneva Convention stipulates these are not legitimate targets.

Despite mounting evidence from the United Nations and international and Israeli human rights groups, the demand for independent investigations into Israeli war crimes in Gaza continues to be ignored, and deemed unnecesary by Israeli army spokesmen.