9 Sept. 2009: B'Tselem publishes complete fatality figures from Operation Cast Lead

Today (Wed. Sept 9th) Israeli human rights group B'Tselem published its findings on the number of Palestinians and Israelis killed in Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip. According to B’Tselem’s research, Israeli security forces killed 1,387 Palestinians during the course of the three-week operation. Of these, 773 did not take part in the hostilities, including 320 minors and 109 women over the age of 18. Of those killed, 330 took part in the hostilities, and 248 were Palestinian police officers, most of whom were killed in aerial bombings of police stations on the first day of the operation. For 36 people, B’Tselem could not determine whether they participated in the hostilities or not.

Palestinians killed 9 Israelis during the operation: 3 civilians and one member of the security forces by rockets fired into southern Israel, and 5 soldiers in the Gaza Strip. Another 4 soldiers were killed by friendly fire.

B'Tselem’s figures, the result of months of meticulous investigation and cross-checks with numerous sources, sharply contradict those published by the Israeli military. Israel stated that 1,166 Palestinians were killed in the operation and that 60% of them were members of Hamas and other armed groups. According to the military, a total of 295 Palestinians who were “not involved” in the fighting were killed. As the military refused to provide B'Tselem its list of fatalities, a comparison of names was not possible. However, the blatant discrepancy between the numbers is intolerable. For example, the military claims that altogether 89 minors under the age of 16 died in the operation. However, B'Tselem visited homes and gathered death certificates, photos, and testimonies relating to all 252 children under 16, and has the details of 111 women over 16 killed.

Behind the dry statistics lie shocking individual stories. Whole families were killed; parents saw their children shot before their very eyes; relatives watched their loved ones bleed to death; and entire neighborhoods were obliterated.

The extremely heavy civilian casualties and the massive damage to civilian property require serious introspection on the part of Israeli society. B'Tselem recognizes the complexity of combat in a densely populated area against armed groups that do not hesitate to use illegal means and find refuge within the civilian population. However, illegal and immoral actions by these organizations cannot legitimize such extensive harm to civilians by a state committed to the rule of law.

The extent of civilian fatalities does not, in itself, prove that Israeli violated the laws of war. However, the figures must be considered within the context of the numerous testimonies given by soldiers and Palestinians during and after the operation, which raise grave concerns that Israel breached fundamental principles of international humanitarian law and caused excessive harm to civilians. The magnitude of this harm requires Israel to conduct an independent and credible investigation, and not make do with military debriefings. Shortly after the operation, B'Tselem published guidelines for such an investigation and sent the Judge Advocate General’s Office some twenty illustrative cases, in which a total of about 90 Palestinian civilians were killed, demanding that they be investigated.

B’Tselem’s list of fatalities in Operation Cast Lead has been sent to the IDF Spokesperson’s Office for comment.

Organizations that participated in the statement: The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Bimkom, B’Tselem, Gisha, Physicians for Human Rights, Adalah , Yesh Din, HaMoked,Center for the Defence of the Individual, Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, Rabbis for Human Rights

http://www.btselem.org/English/Press_Releases/20090909.asp

Views: 55

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Bob of the Family Renner posted photos
3 hours ago
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Two Combat Aircraft Captured and Studied in WWII Pacific Theater

 During the heated contest of the WWII Pacific Ocean War both the US Pacific fleet and the Axis…See More
17 hours ago
Doc Vega posted a blog post
yesterday
Burbia posted a photo
Tuesday
Millie P. Carlos is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Tuesday
Sandy posted videos
Monday
Burbia commented on Ragnarok's video
Thumbnail

Charles Manson Talks About The Global Elite

"Another group of people that get disregarded are the the Process Church.  Deaths and strange…"
Sunday
Sandy posted a video

Captain fantastic scene (Bill of rights)

Scene from the movie "Captain fantastic"Uploader does not claim ownership of any of the footage used in this video. All credit goes to the respective owners ...
Saturday
tjdavis posted photos
Aug 8
tjdavis posted a video

The UK Has Just Reached It's Boiling Point - Ricky Gervais

Ricky Gervais - Frustration still there a year on.Nicholaswatt reports what he has been told by a parliamentary veteran, who warns: "'My constituents feel th...
Aug 8
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Terrorized on a 3 Day Weekend

 We had a holiday weekend coming up. My ex, whom I was sharing custody with was off for her…See More
Aug 8
Sandy posted videos
Aug 7
Sandy replied to Sandy's discussion Sick sci-fi sex fantasy written by Epstein's first benefactor people say inspired his twisted island... before author's SON ended up arresting him
"Interesting. I always thought he was still alive. Probably given some plastic surgery and a witness…"
Aug 7
WIllow is now a member of 12160 Social Network
Aug 7
Burbia commented on Less Prone's video
Thumbnail

Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans - Outrage AI Parody Song

"Props to Schottenstein on his foray out of the woods that was DEI and wokeness. "
Aug 7
Burbia replied to Sandy's discussion Sick sci-fi sex fantasy written by Epstein's first benefactor people say inspired his twisted island... before author's SON ended up arresting him
"One of the theories floating around was Hilary Clinton's brother Hugh, was the one…"
Aug 7
Sandy posted a discussion
Aug 7
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Aug 6
Less Prone favorited Sandy's video
Aug 6
Less Prone favorited tjdavis's video
Aug 6

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted