By Stan Goodenough
Apr 30, 2008
The Israel Defense Forces says initial investigations show that the tank crew whose shell killed a "Palestinian" journalist on April 16 was unable to identify him as a journalist from where they opened fire, about a mile away.
Military officials Wednesday also rejected claims an Israeli missile killed a woman and her four children in Gaza on Monday.
Based on what has happened in the past, however, Israel's denials are likely to be dismissed by many.
Some members of the international press have already tried and convicted the IDF of deliberately killing Reuters News cameraman Fadal Shana in central Gaza.
Defense spokesman Avital Leibovitch said Monday that while the army had not yet completed its probe into Shana's death, "the initial investigation showed [that the journalist and those with him also killed and wounded in the tank strike] were not identified as members of the press."
Regarding the deaths of the Arab mother and her children - the IDF says a missile was fired at two terrorists positioned near their home. A secondary blast from explosives they were carrying is believed to have killed the family.
According to the Israeli daily Ha'aretz, the investigation into the tragedy is based "on two main sources of information: a video recording taken by a drone overflying the area, which is believed to show, albeit not very clearly, that after the missile strike another explosion ensued, probably from explosives carried by the gunmen; and the testimony of air force and Givati Brigade officers. The Givati officers, members of the brigade's reconnaissance battalion, were on the ground in proximity to the area where the blast occurred. They called in the air strike against the gunmen."
Whether or not this is provable, in the words of Israel's Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, the blame for all civilian deaths in Gaza lies with the "Palestinians" who wage their war from the midst of neighborhoods - from among their women and children.