Information surfaced recently, collected by BBC
correspondents, shows the death of two boys who had gathered to play
soccer on their street. To piece things together, mobile phone and CCTV
footage, witness testimony, detailed investigation of the scene with
measurements, and of course a check on the movements of the IDF (Israeli
Defence Force), all combine to provide damning evidence of serious human
rights violations.
The
evidence is conclusive, says Ben Saul, the UN special rapporteur on human rights
and counterterrorism, that the deaths were a war crime. Dr. Lawrence
Hill-Cawthorme, a legal expert, called the use of lethal force by the
Israelis as "indiscriminate".
The BBC has also noted evidence of Palestinian homes being vandalized and civilians being threatened and told to get out and go to Jordan.
Eight-year
old Adam Shafig, a soccer fanatic and huge Lionel Messi fan, joined
his older brother Baha, 14, a friend, Basil, 15, and six others for a game. A friend was videoing the play.
It seems a convoy of a half-dozen Israeli armoured vehicles turned a corner and began heading towards the boys who became uneasy and tried to withdraw. The front door of an armoured vehicle opened giving the armed soldier a clear view of the boys.
At
least 11 shots were then fired and 15-year-old Basil plus eight-year old
Adam lay dead. Basil seemed to have been clutching something in his
hand. The Israelis are claiming it was an explosive device. Now how
many kids play soccer with an explosive device in one hand? The Israelis
say they took a photo of the scene and it shows the explosive device. Why not let everybody see it?
Dr.
Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne, co-director of the Center for International
Law, pointed out the soldiers were in armoured vehicles and clearly
protected from such a small device. "Even if there was a threat,
they should have driven away and planned an arrest, rather than
defaulting to apparently indiscriminate lethal force, which is a
violation of international law."
The
IDF claims the kids were about to hurl explosives towards their forces,
putting them in immediate danger. "The troops responded with fire and
hits were identified."
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