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Last update - 21:05 04/02/2009
Gaza doctor who lost daughters in IDF strike: Everyone makes mistakes
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service
Tags: IDF, Gaza, Abu al-Aish 

Dr. Ezzeldeen Abu al-Aish, who lost three daughters and a niece in an Israel Defense Forces strike in the Gaza Strip last month, responded Wednesday to an IDF statement confirming that it was Israeli fire that killed his daughters, thanking those responsible for investigating the incident and saying that "we all make mistakes, and we don't repeat them."

Abu al-Aish, a father of eight, became one of the symbols of the Gaza offensive for Israelis after he captivated TV viewers with a sobbing live report on the death of his three daughters and his niece in Israeli shelling. The 55-year-old gynecologist trained in Israeli hospitals and speaks Hebrew.

The IDF announced earlier Wednesday that an investigation into the January 16 incident confirmed that it had been Israeli fire that killed the four girls.
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"First of all, I would like to thank all those who worked, and had the courage and good conscience to shed light on the truth that I always believed. Thank you to everyone who took upon themselves to publicize this truth seeking investigation," Abu al-Aish said in an interview with Channel 2.

The Palestinian doctor went on to say "I have two options - the path of darkness or the path of light. The path of darkness is like choosing all the complications with diseases and depression, but the path of light is to focus on the future and my children. This strengthened my conviction to continue on the same path and not to give up."

Abu al-Aish did not neglect to thank the Israelis who met with him and offered him strength, saying "the love that I've received, from people I knew and people I didn't know, gave me strength."

The IDF released the conclusions of its investigation into the incident earlier Wednesday, explaining that Golani troops had been fired upon by snipers situated in the house adjacent to Abu al-Aish's home. The troops identified suspicious figures in the upper levels of the doctor's building, and deduced that they were serving as observers, directing the sniper fire from their vantage point.

Following long deliberations and assessments of the situation, the Golani commander decided to fire tank shells at the building, and when the soldiers heard the screams and realized civilians had been hit, they helped evacuate them, the investigation revealed.

The army argues further that the residents of the neighborhood were urged to evacuate the area prior to the attack via thousands of leaflets that were disseminated in the area, and that the doctor was personally asked by phone to evacuate his family from the neighborhood due to the fighting.

Abu al-Aish denied that there were any militants in the building at the time of the shelling.

The IDF spokesman's office issued a statement extending the IDF's condolences over the incident, but maintaining that the IDF operated within reason in light of the sniper fire directed at the troops and the heavy fighting in the region.

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      1.   very eloquent massacre! 18:19  |  joe 04/02/09
      2.   I believe the doctor 18:22  |  Ramzi, a Palestinian 04/02/09
      3.   Re: Ramzi 20:08  |  Iski 04/02/09
      4.   Hey "joe" from London 20:13  |  Sar Chasm 04/02/09
      5.   Hey "joe" from London 20:16  |  Sar Chasm 04/02/09
      6.   You know, I could write up these `investigations` 20:50  |  Colin Wright 04/02/09
      7.   So they bombed a building that no body fired from 20:51  |  GaileeHero 04/02/09
      8.   What a joke 21:33  |  Michael N 04/02/09
      9.   women and children 21:34  |  Alik 04/02/09
      10.   hats of to this doctor 21:36  |  rm 04/02/09
      11.   Hamas the Protector 21:36  |  Elias 04/02/09
      12.   I believe the doctor too, but.... 21:47  |  Brett, Houston, Tex 04/02/09
      13.   #7 - please re-read the article 22:00  |  david 04/02/09
      14.   GEt it aight Gailee Hero 22:00  |  Sabra 04/02/09
      15.   Gaza terrorists 22:01  |  Bill 04/02/09
      16.   #4 from IN 22:01  |  #4 from IN 04/02/09
      17.   Has the IDF EVER admitted culpability for a civilian death? 22:02  |  Michael 04/02/09
      18.   GaileeHero Did you read the article?? They had reason to believe 22:11  |  PETER SM 04/02/09
      19.   Thank you IDF 22:14  |  Ghandi 04/02/09
      20.   "The troops identified suspicious looking figures moving around." 22:31  |  Maureen Ann 04/02/09
      21.   Murder 22:43  |  John 04/02/09
      22.   Peter SM - what was the IDF doing.... 22:48  |  Palestinian Brit 04/02/09
      23.   very touching 22:50  |  IKarol 04/02/09
      24.   Gaza doctor who lost daughters in IDF strike: Everyone makes mist 00:32  |  Bernard Silver 05/02/09
      25.   Dignified Dr Al Aish 00:33  |  Mariam 05/02/09
      26.   #1 Joe 01:16  |  Jake 05/02/09
      27.   The Gaza doctor`s reaction 02:03  |  Billclock 05/02/09
      28.   we all make mistakes, and we don`t repeat them." 02:04  |  from Canada 05/02/09
      29.   To #1 ---- Joe 02:20  |  Zoe 05/02/09
      30.   PALBRIT the IDF was fighting on a battlefield of Hamas` choosing 02:21  |  PETER SM 05/02/09
      31.   Hamas`s blood 03:16  |  alan the real one 05/02/09
      32.   re 27 just not in billclocks neighborhood 03:21  |  alan the real one 05/02/09
      33.   #27 Billclock 04:07  |  Moshe 05/02/09
      34.   Israel has no shame, no remorse - worse than pleading to a corpse 04:12  |  Joe 05/02/09
      35.   To #1 5th attempt 05:36  |  Hans 05/02/09
      36.   Brett in Houston TX 06:40  |  Ramzi, a Palestinian 05/02/09
      37.   What a remarkable man! 09:07  |  Benjamina 05/02/09
      38.   #35 Hans 09:09  |  Benjamina 05/02/09
      39.   JOE Shame is dancing in the streets and handing out candy 09:27  |  PETER SM 05/02/09
      40.   Read it again David #13 09:45  |  Rod 05/02/09
      41.   I Don`t Hate Palestinians 09:48  |  Yosemite 05/02/09
      42.   We all make mistakes? 09:58  |  Natallie Durson 05/02/09
      43.   what other army? 10:23  |  jonny 05/02/09
      44.   Tickled pink.... 10:23  |  Natallie Durson 05/02/09
      45.   Peter Sm 10:26  |  Marilyn 05/02/09
      46.   Dr Al Aish has been working with Israelis for years 10:34  |  PETER SM 05/02/09
      47.   Hamas mourns the killing of children!!! 10:50  |  yosi 05/02/09
      48.   Peter SM 38 Why do you bother? 10:53  |  Michael 05/02/09
      49.   The man is a model for human beings. 11:26  |  Doug 05/02/09
      50.   MARYLIN Shame you start wars with Israel then cry victim 11:31  |  PETER SM 05/02/09
      51.   natalie..be angry with IDF, be angy with Israel..but pls the DR?? 11:47  |  Meir Gush Etzion 05/02/09
      52.   He`s let you off lightly 11:57  |  English Resident 05/02/09
      53.   MICHAEL UK 12:11  |  PETER SM 05/02/09
      54.   IDF to Doc: You`re a nice guy. It`s been a pleasure! 12:15  |  Natallie Durson 05/02/09
      55.   ENGLISH Resident He is a resident there.Is it possible he knows 12:17  |  PETER SM 05/02/09
      56.   Meir Gush Etzion 13:14  |  Natallie Durson 05/02/09
      57.   PETER SM 52. True friends of Israel offer helpful criticism. 14:04  |  Michael 05/02/09
      58.   Michael UK re #47 14:22  |  ZISD 05/02/09
      59.   A true hero 14:36  |  Kalle 05/02/09
      60.   To: Joe SECOND ATTEMPT 14:59  |  Angel 05/02/09
      61.   To: John on "Murder" 15:05  |  Angel 05/02/09
      62.   Nick 15:42  |  Sabatier 05/02/09
      63.   To Natalie 18:12  |  rm 05/02/09
      64.   #7 18:17  |  Tony 05/02/09
      65.   Unusual but recommendable human efforts 19:08  |  H.H.M 05/02/09
      66.   How do you say "Mentsch" in Arabic? 20:51  |  Karen R 05/02/09
      67.   Which other country in the world 20:59  |  TOMY 05/02/09
      68.   death of children 22:45  |  norma dosky 05/02/09
      69.   even if IDF cautious.... 23:18  |  Liberacio Palatino 05/02/09
      70.   #67, TOMY....surely you jest... 23:23  |  Silvienne 05/02/09
      71.   Dr Says No Hamas Around, So It was not IDF Mistake! 00:11  |  Monitor 06/02/09
      72.   Does he have another family? 05:03  |  Edithann 06/02/09
      73.   No mistakes in War 09:48  |  Majid 07/04/09
      74.   Natalie you`re horrible. 04:01  |  Sakrayami 08/04/09
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