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“On
Monday, an organization of Israeli soldiers known as 'Breaking the
Silence' released a report containing testimonies from more than 60
officers and soldiers from the Israel Defense Forces who served
during the 50-day war against Hamas militants last summer in the Gaza
Strip.”
“The
soldiers describe reducing Gaza neighborhoods to sand, firing
artillery to avenge fallen comrades and shooting at innocent
civilians out of boredom.”
“Leaders
of Breaking the Silence argue that permissive rules of engagement,
coupled with the firing of thousands of rounds of artillery and tank
shells in the dense urban area of the Gaza Strip, led to massive
damage and high numbers of civilian deaths. More than 2,100
Palestinians were killed; as many as seven in 10 were civilians,
according to the United Nations and human rights groups. On the
Israeli side, 66 soldiers and six civilians were killed, including
one child.”
“The
soldiers who testified received guarantees of anonymity from Breaking
the Silence.”
Full
report and testimonies:
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... 100 rockets and 88 mortar
shells fired towards Israel. There were also reports that 135
air-to-ground missiles were fired into Gaza in addition to 115
navy shells. The IDF – inside Gaza or positioned at
the border – fired 1,205 tank shells in to populated areas.
Reportedly, 43 houses were bombarded.
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... an
UNRWA school in Jabalia that sheltered about 3,300 people was
shelled, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. [...] The
precise location of the Jabalia Elementary Girls School and the
fact that it was housing thousands of internally displaced people
was communicated to the Israeli army seventeen times, to ensure
its protection ...
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The number of IDPs in UNRWA
schools continues to rise and has reached almost 240,000. It is
estimated that a total of 460,000 people – that is one quarter
of the Gaza population – are displaced. [...] With entire
neighborhoods flattened, the damage is far more severe than from
the 2008/09 conflict.
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... five UNRWA emergency
shelters were subject to direct kinetic attacks by the Israel
Defense Forces (IDF). According to information provided by the
Protection Cluster [...] The coordinates and joint coordination
map references were communicated to the IDF on multiple occasions.
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UNRWA strongly condemns the
Israeli missile strike next to the
UNRWA Preparatory Boys School A in Rafah at 10:45hrs on 3 August,
killing nine people, including five children who took refuge in
the UN school. According to UNRWA information, the killed children
were between 3 and 15 years old. The strike also killed an UNRWA
guard who signed his contract with the Agency four days ago, and a
volunteer helping those in need. The Israel
Defense Forces (IDF) were notified on 33 separate occasions that
this UN school is sheltering the displaced, the last time only one
hour before the incident.
[...] UNRWA emergency shelters – all of which are UN Premises
protected under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of
the United Nations – were subject to six direct kinetic attacks
by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The
coordinates and joint coordination map references were
communicated to the IDF on multiple occasions.
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