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On April 4, 2004, the Fallujah US Marine commander told City Council members that military action was coming against "insurgents who presumably killed four contractors," despite negotiations to resolve the matter peacefully. Fallujah residents were told not to leave the city, or if necessary for food or medicine to wave a white flag for US troops.
However, it was decided to besiege the city, prevent food, medicine and other supplies coming in, "thus violating the Geneva Conventions that explicitly prohibit" starving civilians and preventing them from leaving. The worst followed, including random bombing and rocket firing, (including cluster bombs, white phosphorous, and other illegal munitions), killing and wounding thousands and displacing thousands more. Widespread destruction of homes and property also occurred.
In addition, "collective punishment took the form of American snipers targeting any moving body, killing innocent civilians, young and old," including men, women, boys and girls. Moreover, sick and wounded civilians "were prevented from reaching the hospital by cutting off the bridge connecting the city to the general hospital. This is an egregious crime under international humanitarian law."
ICRC doctors and relief experts were prevented from entering the city to provide aid. A November 10 statement said thousands of elderly, women, and children had no food or water for days, besides no access to medical help. To prevent word getting out, US forces kept journalists out of the city during military operations.
Afterwards, the city's football stadium became a burial ground for thousands of dead, and those losing homes were sheltered in schools.
One of many other incidents was as follows: a US F-16 bombed 30 civilians displaying white flags while trying to escape. The pilot was ordered to kill them.
Between the two Fallujah battles, US forces kept bombing residential and industrial areas with 500 kg and cluster bombs. Negotiations to halt hostilities failed. Pentagon forces spurned peace, chose mass slaughter and destruction instead, innocent civilians their targets.
Thousands of others were arrested, kept in "cages," some "forced to clean up the city to wipe out any evidence of the American crimes." Hundreds of those arrested went to Abu Ghraib and Basra's Boukah Prison. Many died there from torture and ill treatment.
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