Dead were civilians, Israeli army admits

[JohnLocke]

Dead were civilians, Israeli army admits
By Donald Macintyre -- The Independant
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
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The Israeli army admitted last night for the first time that at least of the seven of the people killed in last Wednesday's demonstration here were unarmed civilians.
Brigadier-General Shmuel Zakai, commander of the Rafah "Operation Rainbow," said in Tel Aviv that one of those killed in the protest had been identified as a "terrorist" although military sources said later that they could not say whether he was armed at the time.
The running dispute between the army and human rights groups, who have been pressing for an independent inquiry into the deaths of the demonstrators, is complicated by the fact that the army say eight people were killed.
Officials at Rafah's main hospital have said 10 people were killed in a protest outside the Tel Sultan neighbourhood where an army siege was lifted yesterday.
But the new admission contradicts early claims by government sources that as many as five of those killed were armed militants. It came as General Zakai also said the whole operation had claimed the lives of 41 militants and 12 civilians. Palestinian human rights groups, who put the total at more than 60 over the past fortnight, claim that the proportion of civilians is significantly higher.
General Zakai's briefing came after the Israelis lifted their siege on the Tel Sultan neighbourhood, and thousands joined the funeral procession for 16 Palestinians killed during the seven-day incursion there. (...)
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Read the rest here.

[Forkboy]

1. To quote someone we know

Like everything else in the ME, the truth tends to come
out sooner or later.

[Darranar]

2. Well, assuming one believes their "seven" claim...

(personally, I think it was considerably higher, more like ten or so) that's still seven people murdered in an attack on an apparentally non-violent crowd.

How is that anything but a terrorist attack?

[Forkboy]

3. kick for the people who like to wait for the facts

[newyorican]

4. Or so they say...

while they throw the most fallacious bullshit against the wall in a pathetic "look over here" attempt to deflect the conversation.

Don't expect any response worth reading from that crew...

[JohnLocke]

5. Kick (nt).

[JohnLocke]

6. Kick (nt).

[Forkboy]

7. Hey Don

where's the outrage?