by Stephen Lendman
 Following
Israel's Operation Cast Lead, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
(PCHR) documented the toll on Gaza's children and published it in May.
It did so "in response to the
unprecedented number of children who were killed (and injured) by (the
Israeli Defense Forces) during the offensive on Gaza."
According to international standards, the Convention on the Rights of
the Child's (CRC) definition was used to apply to anyone under age 18.
PCHR
reviewed IDF killing of Gaza's children since the beginning of the
Second Intifada in September 2000, then focused on the 313 youth deaths
during the recent conflict. Its evidence comes from eye-witness
accounts of the willful targeting of civilians, including women and
children. Also covered are the psychological scars and "alarming scale of physical injuries"
leaving some children blind and many others (as well as adults)
permanently disabled by the loss of limbs and psychological trauma.
PCHR's
report bears testimony to Israel's contempt for international laws, its
imperial agenda, culture of violence, disdain for peace, genocidal
intentions, disparagement of Arabs and Islam, and its scorn for
Palestinian lives and welfare.
PCHR
presented 13 case studies in its report. Briefly discussed below, they
represent a small fraction of the many hundreds killed and thousands
more grievously harmed.
Introduction
Since
the September 2000 Second Intifada, Israeli forces killed 1179
children, including 865 in Gaza as part of a decades-long policy of
collectively punishing millions of Palestinians in the Occupied
Territories, mostly civilian men, women, and children.
Israel calls self-defense "terrorism" and justifies its actions as
responses to militant missile or other attacks. PCHR's investigations
"have consistently undermined these claims," and condemns all killing,
especially of children.
In September 2006, the London Independent's Donald Macintyre
headlined his story: "Gaza: The children killed in a war the world
doesn't want to know about."
He wrote about more than 37 children under 18 killed since June 25
during Israel's Operation Summer Rain, according to PCHR figures, out
of an overall 228 total, mostly civilians.
He highlighted a "forgotten war in the Middle East"
with young boys, girls and adults blown apart by Israeli shells and
missiles, but who notices. He said the IDF attacks heavily populated
areas indiscriminately on the pretext of fighting a "terrorist
infrastructure." He stressed that "attention (was) diverted from Gaza
as Israel launch(ed) a full military invasion of southern Lebanon"
yet civilian deaths mounted in both areas. He listed by name Gazan
children under 18 killed and by what means - from airstrikes, while
playing football, missiles, shrapnel, tank or artillery shells, and
shot in the head or chest at close range. Khitam Mohammed Rebhi Tayey
was one - age 11. Aya Salmeya another - age 9.
Israel
rarely responds to public outrage or investigates its crimes, including
against children. The few times it does turn into whitewashes. After 11
days on March 30, 2009, military advocate general Avichai Mandelblit
closed the IDF's inquiry into Israeli soldiers' accounts of Operation
Cast Lead crimes and dismissed them as unfounded.
International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Protection for Children
Various
laws apply, including the Fourth Geneva Convention and UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child (CRC). As protected persons, they're to be
safeguarded against willful killing, coercion, corporal punishments,
torture, collective penalties and reprisals.
CRC
was the first legally binding international instrument incorporating
all human rights for children, including civil, cultural, economic,
political and social. They're now universally agreed on non-negotiable
standards and obligations supporting their rights.
CRC's
Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict took
effect on February 12, 2002. Israel ratified it on July 18, 2005 and
CRC in 1991. The Optional Protocol strengthens children's rights,
recognizes that they require special protection, and condemns their
being targeted in armed conflicts, especially in schools, hospitals or
at home. Israel is legally bound under both laws and Geneva, yet
disdains them repeatedly, especially by "willful killing" through indiscriminate attacks or deliberately targeting civilian areas or structures.
Truth and Lies: Operation Cast Lead and Civilian Deaths
Besides
vast destruction and mass population displacement, 313 children were
killed among the 1414 who died over a 23-day period. Of the 5300
injured (many seriously), 1606 were children. In all cases, the vast
majority were noncombatants.
Of the children killed:
— most were at home or nearby;
— around one-third were girls and the rest boys;
— almost 15% were under age 5 and another one-fourth between 5 and 10;
— the remainder were between 11 and 17;
— the "overwhelming majority" were killed in densely populated residential areas;
— 46% were killed in northern Gaza;
— 38% in Gaza City;
— 9% in Khan Yunis and Rafah and 7% in less densely populated areas.
Israel
used conventional and illegal weapons. The former included missiles,
artillery and tank shells, mortars, and automatic weapons.
Others included:
— white phosphorous that burns flesh to the bone and can be fatal; it's use is prohibited in civilian areas;
— flechettes that are 4cm long darts used as anti-personnel weapons;
they penetrate to the bone and can cause multiple horrific injuries; up
to 8000 of them can be packed into one artillery shell; on explosion,
they travel at high speed in multiple directions up to around 300
meters; and
— various other internationally prohibited weapons that PCHR investigations uncovered and condemned.
Its
case studies show a consistent failure of Israeli forces to protect
civilian lives, especially those of children. They document
indiscriminate attacks against densely populated neighborhoods in grave
violation of international laws.
To
safeguard civilians and non-military areas and structures, IHL requires
that precautions be taken in any attack, and civilian protection is
paramount. Israel pays no heed and attacks indiscriminately in grave
violation of the law.
Case Study One - The Olaiwa Family
Gaza
City's Isma'il (age 7), Mo'men (age 13), Mo'tassem (age 14) and Lana
Olaiwa, (age 9) and their mother Amal were killed when an artillery
shell struck their home on January 5, 2009. Three other family members
were injured, including Amal's husband, Haider, and her eldest son,
Muntasser.
Two
survivors were too badly injured to be interviewed. PCHR spoke to Fadwa
Olaiwa, Haider's sister, who lived two floors below. She said that 42
extended family members lived in the four-story house. The shell killed
five of them in their kitchen where Amal was cooking.
When
Fadwa heard the explosion, she ran upstairs and saw what happened. She
found Amal decapitated by the refrigerator and the other bodies close
by. Haider, Muntasser and Ghadir were taken to Gaza City's al-Shifa
Hospital. Haider sustained permanent facial and jaw injuries. Ghadir's
right arm was seriously injured. She and her father's hearing were
badly damaged. Muntasser had serious liver and stomach shrapnel wounds
requiring two operations. Metal is still embedded in his right leg, and
he continues to undergo treatment.
PCHR
investigations confirm that no combatants or military targets were
close by at the time of the attack. Artillery shells were fired
indiscriminately, have a range of up to 60 km, and were used against
entire areas, including civilian ones. This attack and many others like
it constitute war crimes on two counts under Articles 8(2)(b)(ii) and
(iv) of the International Criminal Court Statute.
Case Study Two - the al-Dayah Family
In
the Zaytoun district of eastern Gaza, 22 family members were killed
when a bomb struck their home - including 12 children and a pregnant
woman. The explosion destroyed the house and buried many of the family
inside. Only two family members survived, 28-year old Aamer and his
brother Rida. Those killed included:
— Fayez Musbah Hasham, age 60
— Kawkab Sa'id Hussein, age 57
— Radwan Fayez Musbah, age 22
— Sabrin Fayez Musbah, age 24
— Raghda Fayez Musbah, age 34
— Eyad Fayez Musbah, age 36
— Rawda Hilal Hussein, age 32
— Ali Eyad Fayez Musbah, age 10
— Khitam Eyad Fayez Musbah, age 9
— Alaa' Eyad Fayez Musbah, age 7
— Raba'a Eyad Fayez, age 6
— Sharaf Al-Din Eyad Fayez, age 5
— Mohammed Eyad Fayez, age 7 months
— Ramez Fayez Musbah, age 27
— Safaa' Saleh Mohammed, age 20
— Baraa' Ramez Fayez, age 1.5
— Salsabil Ramez Fayez, age 5 months
— Tazal Isma'il Isma'il Mohammed, age 28 and 8 months pregnant
— Amani Mohammed Fayez, age 6
— Qamar Mohammed Fayez, age 5
— Arij Mohammed Fayez, age 3, and
— Yousef Mohammed Fayez, age two
On
February 3, 2009, PCHR interviewed Aamer al-Dayah (who was home) and
his brother, Rida who was outside the house when attacked. Aamer said
24 family members shared seven apartments in the building. When it was
struck, the force knocked Aamer unconscious, and he awakened under
rubble. Rida was at a nearby mosque at the time. He rushed home, freed
Aamer and his twin brother Radwan inside, still alive but only barely
until he died on January 9.
Both
survivors told PCHR that the explosion flung some family members meters
outside their home while others inside were burned beyond recognition.
They had no advance warning of an immanent attack, but PCHR
fieldworkers learned there was military activity nearby. However, all
al-Dayah family members were civilians. The IDF attack gravely breached
international law and constitutes two war crime counts under Articles
8(2)(b)(ii) and (iv) of the International Criminal Court Statute.
According
to IHL principles, Israeli forces used excessive and disproportionate
force against a known civilian target resulting in the death of 22
al-Dayah family members - a crime Palestinians will long remember.
Case Study Three - the al-Battran family
On
January 16, six al-Battran family members were slaughtered in their
al-Bureji refugee camp home by an Israeli aircraft fired missile.
Killed were Manal and five of her children:
— Manal, age 32
— Islam, age 15
— Eman, age 9
— twin sister Ehsan, age 9
— Bilal, age 6 and
— Izziddin, age 3
One
year old son Abdul Hadi and Amal's husband Issa survived. On February
25, PCHR interviewed Issa's brother, Diaa' who was in the house next
door at the time of the attack. When he heard the explosion, he ran
over and discovered the bodies, burnt and shorn of some body parts.
According
to al-Battran family members, Issa hadn't seen his wife and children
since Operation Cast Lead began for fear of being assassinated. The day
of the attack was the first time in January he was with them, only to
pack clothing before heading to a safer location. He survived three
earlier attempts to kill him because of his position in the Izz ad-Din
Al Qassam Brigades.
Shrapnel
at the scene identified a US-made Hellfire missile providing clear
evidence of US involvement. Killing noncombatants is a war crime as
defined in Article 8(2)(b)(iv) of the International Criminal Court
Statute.
Other Case Studies - Further Examples of War Crime Attacks on Noncombatants, Including Children
(1) On January 16, two projectiles killed four Abu Eita family members outside their home, the youngest 2.5 year old Malak Abu.
(2) On January 9, two projectiles destroyed their house and killed six Salha family members, the youngest Bahaa, age 5
(3)
On January 5, a projectile killed Mohammed Hijji. Earlier their home
was commandeered by Israeli forces. Family members were held prisoners
inside, then forced to be human shields so they could occupy a nearby
house. Afterwards the family was ordered to evacuate Zaytoun where they
lived, then shot at while leaving, killing their 2.5 year old daughter
Shahd. Relatives and Arafat family members told to leave were also
fleeing. In progress, one woman was shot and killed. Nine others were
wounded. All are civilians, including children.
(4)
on January 14, a projectile killed 14 year old Izziddin al-Farra in
Qarara village in eastern Gaza while he and his friend Abdul Ghani were
bicycling on a rural road. Abdul sustained a serious head injury.
(5)
On January 4, Israeli forces shot and killed 1.5 year old Farah
al-Helu. Family members were in their home. Soldiers entered, shot and
killed 62 year old Fouad, then ordered the family to evacuate. Outside
they were shot at, injuring three family members and killing Farah who
bled to death. One family member described their ordeal. They tried
crawling to safety. Most did but three others were struck and lay in
the street. Farah bled to death because emergency care was denied -
further evidence of a war crime atrocity.
(6)
On December 29, a bombing of an adjacent mosque destroyed the Balousha
family Jabaliya refugee camp home. Five of eight daughters were killed,
the youngest Jawaher age four. Five others were injured and another
five homes were seriously damaged.
(7)
On January 6, two projectiles struck the yard of Mo'in Deeb's Jabaliya
refugee camp home when 10 family members were there. Ten were killed
instantly, the youngest Nour Mo'in age 3. Others were injured, four
critically. One subsequently died. Another had both legs amputated.
(8)
On December 29, a bomb struck the al-'Absi family Yibna refugee camp
home in Rafah while those in it were sleeping. Three children died
instantly, the youngest Sidqi age 4. Their mother sustained critical
injuries. Four other children were also injured.
(9)
On January 17, a white phosphorous artillery shell struck the area
around a Beit Lahiya school killing Bilal al-Ashqar (age 6) and
Mohammed al-Ashqar (age 4). Two other family members were seriously
injured. Their mother sustained critical head injuries and loss of her
right hand. Her 19 year old daughter had her leg blown off. All were
sheltering there at the time.
(10)
On January 5, a projectile struck a house where the Abdul-Dayem family
was attending a condolence ceremony. Those inside fled across the
street and were struck by two tank shells containing flechettes. Three
family members, including one child, were killed instantly. Two others,
including a child, subsequently died of their injuries.
PCHR summarized the 23-day toll as follows:
"Alongside
the 313 children killed by Israeli forces during (Operation Cast Lead),
1606 children were injured, with some sustaining horrific disabilities,
head and spinal injuries, facial disfiguration, burns and amputation."
Most
were in their homes at the time. Others in shelters for their safety.
Some of the injured couldn't access medical care resulting in their
permanent disability, infection, and for some their death. Even at
hospitals, doctors were overwhelmed, under-resourced, and forced to
deliver care under battlefield conditions.
The
toll on parents and children was horrific, and some surviving adults
face a lifelong task of caring for their permanently disabled
offspring. Those who lost parents require help from relatives. The
stench of death, injury, vast destruction, displacement, and Gaza still
under siege pervades the Territory. The conflict's psychological impact
inflicted collective trauma - unrelieved and hardly noticed by Israel,
America, the West, and most Arab states.
Children more than others suffer most and now experience "anger,
sleeping difficulties, nightmares, avoidance of situations that are
reminders of the trauma, impairment of concentration, and guilt"
because they survived while others didn't. Post Traumatic Stress
Disorders (PTSD) approach epidemic levels, but fortunately Gaza's
Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP) provides some of the best
care of its kind in the Middle East. Years of conflict honed their
skills.
After
hostilities ended, they assessed the psychological damage on children
and learned that the overwhelming majority personally witnessed
traumatic events that could seriously impair their mental health. For
example:
— 98% of children said they didn't feel safe;
— 96% didn't think they could protect themselves;
— 97% thought their families couldn't protect them;
— 90% heard bombing;
— 89% saw homes destroyed from it;
— 65% were forced to evacuate their homes;
— 61% saw their neighbors' homes bombed;
— 54% were either physically detained in their homes by soldiers or
were trapped inside them during bombings and/or shellings; and
— 55% said they were told that one or more of their family members or relatives were killed.
Psychologist Hassan Ziyada said: "These
children reported high levels of trauma and insecurity that will impact
on the psychological and intellectual development....(They're)
suffering continual long-term trauma due to the psychological, social
and economic effects of the recent offensive, the siege and closure of
Gaza, and the internal political situation. This (attack) came at a
very difficult time for all the people of Gaza, especially children,
who were already suffering acute feelings of anxiety and
powerlessness....Children in Gaza are continuing to exhibit long-term
symptoms of hyperactivity, deterioration of their cognitive abilities,
instrusive memories and hyper arousal and anxiety."
Ziyada
believes many children will develop long-term depression from the loss
of loved ones and friends that contribute to a feeling of abandonment.
He also said they're experiencing physical body pain, headaches,
stomach aches, insomnia and aggressive behavior.
In
an appendix, PCHR listed all 313 children killed by name, gender, age,
location, date of attack, and date of death. The youngest was one month
old Al-Mu'tasim Bellah Mohammed Ibrahim al-Samouni. Also one month old
Hala 'Isam Ahmed al-Mnei'i. Israel expressed no regrets nor did America.
Stephen
Lendman is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on
Globalization. He lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also
visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Global
Research News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday - Friday at 10AM
US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests
on world and national issues. All programs are archived for easy
listening.
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