Hotel Terminus: Israel Report Attempts to Cover up Widespread and Systematic Commission of War Crimes and Shield Perpetrators from Justice

On the 20 of July, the State of Israel released a report, Gaza Operation Investigations: Second Update, which details Israel’s response to allegations of international law violations committed in the context of the 27 December 2008 – 18 January 2009 offensive on the Gaza Strip. The report serves to highlight the inadequacies inherent in Israel’s investigative system, and proves that Israel has failed to fulfil its international obligation to conduct genuine investigations and prosecutions following serious international law violations.

To-date, according to Israel’s report, only 4 criminal indictments have been issued: 2 for the use of a minor as a human shield, one in respect of the Abu Hajjaj white flag case (discussed below), and one for the theft of a credit card. A limited number of other cases, such as the attack on UNRWA Head Quarters, the use of a human shield, and the attack on the Al-Maqadma mosque, have resulted in wholly inadequate disciplinary proceedings. Israel has not analysed the majority of other reported incidents, and has closed a number of other investigations. In all cases discussed in Israel’s report there is significant evidence indicating the commission of international crimes.

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) asserts that Israel has wholly failed to fulfil its obligation to conduct genuine investigations; the State’s efforts to date represent an attempt to shield the perpetrators from justice. Moreover PCHR has identified a number of inconsistencies in Israel’s reported findings. The following cases are illustrative of the ineffectiveness of Israel’s investigative system, and proved further proof that recourse must be had to mechanisms of international justice. Further details and analysis of the Israeli investigative and judicial system will be soon released in a forthcoming PCHR report.

Abu Hajjaj

The case of the Abu Hajjaj family involves the targeting of a group of civilians carrying white flags on the 4 January 2009, in the Johr Ad-Dik area of the Gaza Strip. The attack resulted in the killing of two women: Majeda Abu Hajjaj (35), and Raya Abu Hajjaj (65).

Israeli forces have claimed that their investigation:

“found gaps between the testimonies given by the soldiers and those given by Palestinians. This fact made it impossible to make a criminal connection between the described incident according to Palestinian testimonies and to that described by the soldiers.

The soldiers testified that on January 5th, 2009 it was a man that was shot and killed in the same location described by Palestinian witnesses.”[1]

As a result, it was reported that an Israeli marksman was charged with the manslaughter of an unidentified man.[2] Both the findings and the charge raise serious questions as regards the effectiveness of the investigation and the intention behind the indictment.

No male was shot during this incident. At no point in the complaint was it mentioned that a man was injured or killed, and there is absolutely no evidence to indicate that this occurred. As noted by Salah Abu Hajjaj, who was among the targeted group: “My mother was shot and injured. The bullet went through her arm and into her chest. After 15 meters my mother fell down. Majeda, was also shot. She died immediately.” Salah’s mother and sister were the only two individuals killed in the incident.

Two specific issues arise from the MAG’s conclusions. First, is the heavy – in this instance apparently exclusive – reliance on the accused’s testimony. As stated, there is no evidence to corroborate this version of events, which it must be presumed were given in an attempt to mitigate the effects of self-incrimination. Equally, it is apparent that investigators did not place any reliance on the complainants’ sworn affidavits, or request further evidence. Second, given that there is no evidence whatsoever to indicate that a male was killed, one must question the purpose of bringing forward an indictment on this charge. As regards the charge itself, it must be noted that the intentional killing of a civilian constitutes the crime of willful killing, a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions; manslaughter clearly does not reflect the gravity of the crime.

Extra info Abu Hajjaj family:
I will tell you how Arafa died - Eva Bartlett writing from the occupied Gaza Strip, Live from Palestine, 6 January 2009
Ensuring maximum casualties in Gaza - Eva Bartlett, The Electronic Intifada, 16 March 2009

Al-Maqadma Mosque

On 3 January 2009, Israeli forces targeted the Al-Maqadma mosque on the outskirts of Jabalia camp. A single air-to-ground anti-personnel missile struck near the doorway of the mosque, killing 15 civilians and injuring a further 40. The missile contained a payload of small cube shaped fragments designed to enhance the lethality of the weapon.

The inconsistencies in Israel’s original analysis of the incident have been detailed elsewhere and will not be discussed in detail here. Suffice to highlight that the original procedure failed to find that the vicinity of the mosque was hit;[3] the Report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict noted the “unsatisfactory and demonstrably false position of the Israeli Government.”[4]

After discovering that the mosque was in fact hit, on 6 July 2010 Israel claimed the “aerial strike targeted a terror operative involved in the firing of rockets towards Israel who was standing outside the mosque.”[5] Subsequently, on 19 July, Israel claimed that the missile strike was actually “directed at two terrorist operatives standing near the entrance of the mosque.”[6] Sworn affidavits, and investigations conducted by PCHR, indicate that there were no hostilities or military activity in the vicinity at the time of the attack. This was not contested by Israel in its two recent statements. PCHR’s evidence indicates that all of the dead were civilians, and the name of the alleged ‘terror operative(s)’ has not been disclosed.

The attack occurred at approximately 17:20 pm, shortly after sunset prayers; it could reasonably be assumed that the mosque and its immediate vicinity would be full of civilian worshippers. Israel has claimed that “[i]njuries caused to civilians inside were unintentional and caused by shrapnel that penetrated the mosque.”[7] However, both the timing of the attack, and the nature of the anti-personnel missile used, contest the credibility of this claim.

PCHR believes that this attack constitutes a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions, in respect of the crimes of wilful killing and wilfully causing great suffering; a finding shared by the UN Fact Finding Mission.[8] Even if the attack did target a combatant – a claim contested by PCHR – it remains a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions as it was clearly indiscriminate, and of such a nature as to amount to the direct targeting of civilians.[9]

Apart from the blatant inadequacies of the investigation, which cannot be considered to be in conformity with the requirements of international law, it is noted that the officer who authorised the attack was merely disciplined, and rebuked by the Chief of the General Staff, despite the fact that Israel has noted that before the strike the officer in question learned that the building was a mosque, but failed to call off the attack.[10] Such ‘disciplinary’ actions in no way reflect the gravity of the international crime committed.

Abd Al-Dayem

The ambulance which Arafa Abd al-Dayem was loading when he was fatally struck by an Israeli-fired dart bomb.

On 5 January, at approximately 8:20 am, Israeli forces fired two tank shells containing flechette darts in the direction of a condolence ceremony. 5 civilians were killed, and a further 17 civilians injured.

Israel has reported that the tank commander “visually identified a squad of terrorist operatives in open terrain, loading a “Grad” rocket”.[11] It was further reported that the “tank crew observed the area surrounding the terrorist squad and did not identify any civilians in the vicinity.”[12]

As with the case of Abu Hajjaj, this version of events conflicts all available evidence. First, it must be noted that the condolence tent was situated on a sidewalk approximately 10 metres wide, along a road approximately 22m wide in total. This gives a high degree of continuous visibility, over what is a residential area, as can be seen from the site maps; although there is a high degree of visibility, it is not “open terrain” as was claimed.

As is to be expected at an event of this type, a significant number of individuals were present in the tents and on the street, as proven by the high number of casualties. It defies belief that the tank commander did not see this large gathering of civilians. Further, it is emphasized that tank fired flechette shells are a line-of-sight weapon; the individual firing the weapon fires directly at a target.

Israel’s claim that the attack targeted a group of combatants is further contested by the fact that the dead and injured were all civilians.

This incident was clearly an indiscriminate attack of such a nature as to amount to the direct targeting of civilians.[13] As such, it constitutes the grave breach of wilful killing, and wilfully causing great suffering. It may also constitute the straightforward direct targeting of civilians.

PCHR stresses that it is imperative that the international community takes action to ensure that the rule of law be enforced. Over a year and a half after the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, it is essential that victims’ legitimate rights to an effective remedy and the equal protection of the law be fulfilled and all those responsible for serious violations of international law be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the clear demands of international law.

The international community, including the UN Security Council, must support the recourse to mechanisms of international justice, including a referral of the situation to the International Criminal Court, under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, and the exercise of universal jurisdiction, in accordance with State’s legal obligations.

[1] IDF, IDF
Military Advocate General Indicts Soldiers Following Investigations into
Incidents during Operation Cast Lead, 6 July 2010. Available at: http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/Press+Releases/10/07/0601.htm
[2] IDF, IDF
Military Advocate General Indicts Soldiers Following Investigations into
Incidents during Operation Cast Lead, 6 July 2010. Available at: http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/Press+Releases/10/07/0601.htm
[3] IDF, IDF
Military Advocate General Indicts Soldiers Following Investigations into
Incidents during Operation Cast Lead, 6 July 2010. Available at: http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/Press+Releases/10/07/0601.htm
[4] Report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on
the Gaza Conflict, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/12/48, 25 September 2009, §839.
[5] IDF, IDF
Military Advocate General Indicts Soldiers Following Investigations into
Incidents during Operation Cast Lead, 6 July 2010. Available at: http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/Press+Releases/10/07/0601.htm
[6] State of Israel, Gaza Operation Investigations: Second Update, July 2010, §68.
[7] IDF, IDF
Military Advocate General Indicts Soldiers Following Investigations into
Incidents during Operation Cast Lead, 6 July 2010. Available at: http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/Press+Releases/10/07/0601.htm
[8] Report of the UN Fact Finding Mission on
the Gaza Conflict, U.N. Doc. A/HRC/12/48, 25 September 2009, §842.
[9] See, Prosecutor
v. Galic, ICTY, Case No. IT-98-29-T, 5 December 2003, §57.
[10] State of Israel, Gaza Operation Investigations: Second Update, July 2010, §73.
[11] State of Israel, Gaza Operation Investigations: Second Update, July 2010, §115.
[12] State of Israel, Gaza Operation Investigations: Second Update, July 2010, §115.
[13] See, Prosecutor
v. Galic, ICTY, Case No. IT-98-29-T, 5 December 2003, §57.

PCHR 21 July 2010

WHITE WASHING WAR CRIMES

VN school in Beit Lahia wordt bestookt met wit fosfor, hulpverleners en ondergebrachte vluchtelingen vluchten, Gaza, 17 januari 2009

Rawan Abu Taber, 4 jaar, ernstig verbrand door witte fosfor. Haar duim moest afgesneden worden omdat het fosfor maar door bleef branden. Shifa ziekenhuis, Gaza Stad, 21 januari 2009.