Most Victims of Israel Strikes on Gaza Were Palestinian Civilians, Children
Image by getty images
More than half those killed killed during Israel’s operation in the Gaza Strip last November were innocent civilians and a third were children, the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem said in a report released this week.
The B’Tselem based its findings on Operation Pillar of Defense on statements issued by the Israel Defense Forces, the Shin Bet security service, and on an internal investigation.
The IDF killed 167 Palestinians during the operation, at least 87 of them non-combatants, according to the data presented in the B’Tselem report.
Thirty-one of these non-combatant civilians, or 35 percent, were minors. Of these minors, 20 were under the age of 12, according to B’Tselem.
The B’Tselem report also segments the number of Palestinians killed on each of the eight days of fighting: during each of the first four days, an average of four “non-participant” Palestinians were killed; over the next four days, the number in this category soared by more than four to an average of 17.5 per day. The report also notes that during the first days of the fighting, the number of Palestinian combatants who were killed was nearly twice the number of non-combatant fatalities. In the subsequent days of the operation, this proportion was reversed.
For more, go to Haaretz
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
