UN: IDF officers admitted there was no gunfire from Gaza school which was shelled

[doodlebugg 10]

UN: IDF officers admitted there was no gunfire from Gaza school which was shelled

By Barak Ravid and Akiva Eldar, Haaretz Correspondent

The United Nations is claiming Israeli military officers have admitted there was no Palestinian gunfire emanating from inside an UNRWA school in Gaza which was shelled by an IDF tank.

Dozens of Palestinians were killed in the shelling.

In addition, UNRWA Thursday announced it will cease activities in the Strip due to the death of an UNRWA staffer in an IDF shelling during Thursday morning's humanitarian hiatus.

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UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness told Haaretz yesterday that the army had conceded wrongdoing.

"In briefings senior [israel Defense Forces] officers conducted for foreign diplomats, they admitted the shelling to which IDF forces in Jabalya were responding did not originate from the school," Gunness said. "The IDF admitted in that briefing that the attack on the UN site was unintentional."

He noted that all the footage released by the IDF of militants firing from inside the school was from 2007 and not from the incident itself.

"There are no up-to-date photos," Gunness said. "In 2007, we abandoned the site and only then did the militants take it over."

The UNRWA is now demanding an objective investigation into whether the school shelling constituted a violation of international humanitarian law, and if so, that those responsible stand trial.

The UN reported Thursday that a Palestinian working for the UNRWA was killed by an IDF tank shell while driving an aid truck at the Erez border crossing. The organization claims the UN truck was well-marked and the incident took place during the humanitarian hiatus slated to allow Gaza residents to acquire supplies

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1054009.html

I guess we know why Israel doesn't want reporters in Gaza.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

So why was the old footage released?

That's a rhetorical question BTW.

[HAL 9000 96]

OOPS!

Will Haaretz be accused of being a leftist, Israel hating lot now?

Wow... so... I'll accept the word of apparent IDF officers over the word of VJ posters in this matter. I wonder, then... where the percentages and body counts are coming from in the first hand that are being reported here as being so-many Hamas to the total 'innocent civilian' count. Which means that at least a few members here are posting out of their buttocks.

[mawilson 2,133]

Will Haaretz be accused of being a leftist, Israel hating lot now?

Haaretz has always been a leftist newspaper, no accusation necessary.

That said, mistakes do happen.

Wow... so... I'll accept the word of apparent IDF officers over the word of VJ posters in this matter. I wonder, then... where the percentages and body counts are coming from in the first hand that are being reported here as being so-many Hamas to the total 'innocent civilian' count. Which means that at least a few members here are posting out of their buttocks.

Coming from the IDF, just like this story.

[doodlebugg 10]

Will Haaretz be accused of being a leftist, Israel hating lot now?

Haaretz has always been a leftist newspaper, no accusation necessary.

That said, mistakes do happen.

Wow... so... I'll accept the word of apparent IDF officers over the word of VJ posters in this matter. I wonder, then... where the percentages and body counts are coming from in the first hand that are being reported here as being so-many Hamas to the total 'innocent civilian' count. Which means that at least a few members here are posting out of their buttocks.

Coming from the IDF, just like this story.

So issuing the 2007 images was a mistake? Lotsa mistakes being made with so many innocent civilians. Perhaps Israel should hone up on their intelligence? Or are all of their soldiers just prone to a huge percentage of mistakes?

Edited January 9, 2009 by humpkinpumpkin

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Its safe to say that the release of the footage was not a "mistake".

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Tragic. Hopefully, people here who have rightfully expressed their outrage over the Hamas, will also be troubled, if not outraged by the unnecessary tragedy. To simply blame the Palestinian people by way of the Hamas have governmental power is outrageously simplistic and undermines the real injustices going on between both sides of this ongoing conflict.

[mawilson 2,133]

Its safe to say that the release of the footage was not a "mistake".

That's a matter of perspective, not of fact.

[HAL 9000 96]

Oh I heartily agree that Israeli intelligence is not prone to making many mistakes. Whatever they publicize in terms of footage is likely done on purpose.

As for statistics... well... those are also publicized on purpose.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Its safe to say that the release of the footage was not a "mistake".

That's a matter of perspective, not of fact.

I doubt it.

[mawilson 2,133]

Its safe to say that the release of the footage was not a "mistake".

That's a matter of perspective, not of fact.

I doubt it.

Your anti-Israel bias shows.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Its safe to say that the release of the footage was not a "mistake".

That's a matter of perspective, not of fact.

I doubt it.

Your anti-Israel bias shows.

I think his confidence in the capability of Israel's intelligence and Israel's lack of candor shows....

Edited January 9, 2009 by Rob and Mel

[mawilson 2,133]

Its safe to say that the release of the footage was not a "mistake".

That's a matter of perspective, not of fact.

I doubt it.

Your anti-Israel bias shows.

I think his confidence in the capability of Israel's intelligence and Israel's lack of candor shows....

I've never seen him "doubt" any Hamas propaganda piece masquerading as news.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Well, it just looks all to familiar here. A government misusing old intelligence to their advantage as a pretense to go to war. Hmmmm where have we seen this before?

Before you condemn me for suggesting it, I do believe Israel has a solemn right to defend themselves. Hamas has been firing rockets at their country for god knows how long. If Hamas is the elected government of Palestine, then they should pay the price for the actions of their organization. I don't agree that a full blown invasion is the right answer, but they needed to do something in response.

[nowhereman 1]

Its safe to say that the release of the footage was not a "mistake".

That's a matter of perspective, not of fact.

I doubt it.

Your anti-Israel bias shows.

Propaganda is an integral part of military operations (we call it "information operations" in the US military). All countries "lie", some are just worse than others. To suggest that the Israeli's feces doesn't smell is ridiculous... the question is how badly it smells.