Israeli human rights group criticises cabinet over 'unlawful' bombing of residential buildings in Gaza during summer war
B'tselem said that more than 70 per cent of the fatalities in the air attacks were not involved in last summer's hostilities
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Israel’s leading human rights organisation has alleged that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet persisted in an “unlawful” policy of bombing residential buildings in Gaza in last summer’s war.
The accusation by B’tselem came days after the International Criminal Court announced it was opening a preliminary investigation into possible war crimes in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
More than 600 Palestinians, roughly a quarter of the death toll during the war, were killed in the incidents investigated by the rights group. It said that more than 70 per cent of the fatalities in these air attacks were not involved in hostilities.
The Israel Defence Force did not respond to the B’tselem claims, but it has said in the past that it fully complied with International Humanitarian Law, that homes targeted were used for “command and control” by Hamas fighters and that the group launched rocket attacks against Israeli civilians from civilian sites in Gaza.
The main UN aid agency in Gaza says the failure of international donors to make good on pledges was forcing it to suspend cash aid to tens of thousands of people.
Robert Turner, Gaza director of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency said: “People are literally sleeping among the rubble. Children have died of hypothermia.”
In response to the claims from B'tselem, a spokesman for the Israel Defence Force (IDF) said: "The Israel Defence Force (IDF) does not attack residential buildings in Gaza but rather military targets that are often located within residential buildings. The IDF categorically rejects the assertion of a policy of deliberately attacking residential homes solely on the basis that they were residences belonging to members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad. The IDF is fully committed to international law obligations."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments