Army closes investigation into the killing of 21 members of the a-Samuni family in Gaza

[Jefferson23]

Published:
1 May 2012

The MAG (Military Advocate's General) Corps informed B'Tselem today that it has closed the Military Police investigation file in the complaint submitted by B'Tselem into the killing of 21 members of the a-Samuni family in the Gaza Strip. The file was closed without taking any measures against those responsible. In a letter sent to B'Tselem and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in Gaza (PCHR) that filed a complaint into the matter as well, major Dorit Tuval, from the MAG Corps for operational matters wrote that the investigation completely disproved any claim about deliberate harm to civilians, as well as haste and recklessness regarding possible harm to civilians, or criminal negligence. The military's response does not detail the findings of the investigation, nor does it provide the reasons behind the decision to close the file or any new information about the circumstances.

In response, Adv. Yael Stein, B'Tselem's head of research, said: it is unacceptable that no one is found responsible for an action of the army that led to the killing of 21 uninvolved civilians, inside the building they entered under soldiers' orders, even if this was not done deliberately. The way the army has exempted itself of responsibility for this event, even if only to acknowledge its severity and clarify its circumstances, is intolerable. Shirking the responsibility for the deaths of hundreds of other civilians and the immense damage caused by operation Cast Lead demonstrates yet again the need for an Israeli investigation mechanism that is external to the army.

in full: http://www.btselem.org/press_releases/20120501_samuni_investigation_closed

[azurnoir]

1. what makes this so bad is this part from B'tselem

On 4 January 2009, soldiers gathered about 100 members of the extended a-Samuni family in the house of Wael a-Samuni, in the a-Zeitun neighborhood of Gaza City. The next morning, at 6:30 A.M., when a few members of the family tried to leave the house, the military fired a missile or shell at them, killing one person and wounding two other persons. A few seconds later, the military fired two more shells or missiles that hit the house directly. The house collapsed on its occupants, killing 21 persons, including 9 children and many women, and injuring dozens of other family members. Despite repeated requests by the Red Cross, B'Tselem, and other human rights organization, the army prevented removal of the injured people for two days, until 7 January. After the wounded persons were evacuated, the army demolished the house with the dead bodies inside. It was only possible to remove them from under the debris after the army withdrew, about two weeks later.

the outcome of this case however is sadly no surprise

[Jefferson23]

4. I agree, it is sad and the outcome is no surprise at all. n/t

[oberliner]

2. Already an OP - check before posting

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11349333

[Jefferson23]

3. I prefer this source, I would not presume as you have there was no check, but thanks for the kick.

[oberliner]

5. Why not just append it to the other article then?

That way you can add your preferred source to the already posted article without starting a new thread.

[Jefferson23]

6. More respones that have nothing to do with the OP, thanks for another kick all the same. n/t

[oberliner]

9. I responded to the OP when it was posted the first time

That is one of the reasons why it's easier to have all the articles on the same exact topic collected in the same place. That way you can see all the various responses together and the conversation can go from there.

I do think it's good to have this post (or the other one with the same info) kicked to the top as the information contained is certainly noteworthy and ought to be widely read.

If nothing else, this little side conversation has hopefully helped in some small way to achieve that end at least!

Edit to Add: Oops! I meant to respond to the other post, but see now that I haven't. Anyway, my response is that everyone should read the report - it's important!

[Dick Dastardly]

7. Heavens to Murgatroids. What does it matter

If Jefferson wants to have his own thread for whatever his reason is , then its his right to do so. Same goes for anyone else. Why waste time arguing about it.

[oberliner]

8. Not a big deal at all

Wasn't meaning to argue. Generally speaking when someone posts an OP that was already posted, it's pointed out. Also, for the most part, people usually append articles on the same topic from different sources to a pre-existing OP. Makes it easier to keep things manageable. Otherwise you could have 4-5 articles with essentially the same info clogging up the works and causing other threads not to get the attention they might get otherwise.

[Jefferson23]

10. Israeli commander won't face charges in controversial 2009 Gaza attack

May 1, 2012 | 12:41 pm

JERUSALEM -- An Israeli military commander who ordered an air strike against a Gaza Strip home in 2009, killing 21 members of a family that was fleeing fighting in the area, will not face criminal charges, a military prosecutor announced Tuesday.

The attack on the members of the Samouni family -- who had had been ordered by Israeli soldiers to take refuge in the home hours before it was attacked -- was one of the most controversial incidents of Israel's 22-day offensive against Gaza militants more than three years ago.

The attack was cited by a United Nations report and several human rights groups as an example of possible war crimes committed by Israel during Operation Cast Lead, which left more than 1,200 Palestinians dead.

After initially denying the incident, Israel launched a criminal investigation that has been pending for more than two years.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/05/israel-no-criminal-charges-2009-gaza-attack.html

[oberliner]

11. Here's Richard Silverstein's take

IDF Closes Book on al-Samouni Killings, Whitewashes Massacre

http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2012/05/03/idf-closes-book-on-al-samouni-massacre/

[shira]

12. Thanks for the laugh! n/t

[jimmie]

16. OMG !!

that was not very pleasant .

Did you read the letters below?

[oberliner]

17. Are you not familiar with his blog?

Pleasant is not an adjective that generally comes to mind with respect to the exchanges of opinion.

[shira]

13. How's about an investigation into B'tselem's erroneous claims WRT Cast Lead? n/t

[Jefferson23]

14. How about it...would you like to conduct it? n/t

[Scurrilous]

15. Thanks.

K & R