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Last update - 18:41 30/04/2008 B'Tselem: IDF probe into death of Gazan family not enough By Haaretz Service Tags: Gaza, Israel, IDF, B'Tselem The B'Tselem human rights organization urged the Military Advocate General on Wednesday to launch a criminal investigation into the killing of a Gaza mother and four children on Monday. Israel and Hamas have traded accusationsover the incident. Hamas maintains that an IDF tank fired a shell that killed the family, while the Israel Defense Forces said the deaths were caused by a "secondary explosion" after two missiles troops fired against Palestinian militants near the family's tin-hut home detonated explosive devices carried by the militants. Advertisement While the IDF has already appointed an officer to lead an inquest into the incident, B'Tselem maintains it is not enough, and an additional independent probe should tackle the responsibility of the higher echelons and the wider systemic implications. The incident began when Givati Brigade infantrymen, accompanied by combat engineers and armored units, entered an area near Beit Hanoun, in the northern Gaza Strip, to clear the area of militants firing Qassam rockets against communities in the Negev. During the operation, the Givati troops and Palestinian militants exchanged fire, and at one stage IDF observation equipment identified two Palestinians firing at the soldiers. The IDF said that an aircraft fired a missile against the gunmen, and a hit was confirmed. The Palestinians counter that an Israeli tank fired at the family's home, even though the gunmen were not nearby. They say that the shell hit the home of the Abu Muatak family as they ate breakfast, killing the mother Miyasar and her four children: Salah, 4, Musad, 18 months, Hanaa, 3, and Rudeynah, 6. The Palestinians say that the blast also killed a gunman near the house, who is believed to have been a member of Islamic Jihad. A B'Tselem investigation also counters the IDF's official version. It reveals that an IDF missile fired at three gunmen, hitting them and another bystander. About a minute later another missile was fired at a fourth guman, who was standing near the Abu Muataks' front door, and killed him and the five family members. The organization maintains that the firing of the second missile infringed on international humanitarian law, since the chances of harming civilians in a densely populated area were very high. On Monday, the IDF decided to initiate a probe into the killing in order to verify the cause of the blast that killed the Palestinian family. Assigned to lead the investigation is the colonel in charge of the artillery units in the Southern Command. Major General Yoav Galant, the head of Southern Command and Air Force head Major General Eliezer Shkedi, initiated the probe due to try and counter the Palestinian claims - which received significant coverage in the international media. Related articles: PM voices 'deep remorse' for Gaza deaths, but says Hamas put victims at risk ANALYSIS / IDF behaving as if there is no truce on horizon News / Two Israeli civilians killed by Gazan infiltrators Bookmark to del.icio.us   Security first Foreign Minister Livni tells the PA to ensure terrorists don't exploit Israel's gestures. Terrorist pride Lebanon-based guerillas Hezbollah say they're proud to appear on the U.S. terrorist list.   1.   MURDEROUS IDF... TRYING TO FOOL WORLD! 18:58  |  TripleJump 30/04/08   2.   Betzelem is not a human rights organization 19:29  |  Ulf 30/04/08   3.   No one ever gets away with murder 19:46  |  El-Birawi 30/04/08   4.   Over 2000 dead like this in 8 years. People see through this now. 19:49  |  Don`t Ignore Stuff 30/04/08   5.   ulf 2 19:49  |  potobac 30/04/08   6.   I told you this 2 days ago, and there are other witnesses 19:53  |  Ali-AP Reporter 30/04/08   7.   Don`t Ignore Stuff ignores Arabs murdering that many in one week 20:01  |  Genuine Tosefta 30/04/08   8.   Pal Arab version of B`Tselem 20:06  |  Sam 30/04/08   9.   This is what you get if you fire missles from civilian areas 20:16  |  lakshmi 30/04/08   10.   Kassams Intended to Kill Israeli Families Are OK, It Seems 20:37  |  JP 30/04/08   11.   Google B`tselem member`s bios to get their left-tilt on Israel 20:38  |  common sense 30/04/08   12.   El-Birawi Full of El-Baloney 20:42  |  JP 30/04/08   13.   RELEASE THE VIDEO 20:48  |  Mark of Lewiston 30/04/08   14.   Tosefta, diversion tactics don`t work anymore. Look in the mirror 20:49  |  Don`t Ignore Stuff 30/04/08   15.   Don`t Ignore Stuff # 4...NATURALLY!! 21:03  |  WYSIWYG 30/04/08   16.   Ali-AP Reporter # 6 - Speaks the Truth 21:15  |  WYSIWYG 30/04/08   17.   Mark of Lewiston # 13 - I agree 21:20  |  WYSIWYG 30/04/08   18.   The mirror is what Arabs and you have ignored for 1400 years 21:25  |  Genuine Tosefta 30/04/08   19.   ISLAMICS Deliberately Target for MURDER Jewish MOTHERS & BABIES 22:02  |  Linda Rivera 30/04/08   20.   #14 repeating old arab propaganda DOESNT work in 2008 22:20  |  The truth prevails 30/04/08   21.   JP Your own baloney? #12 23:02  |  examiner 30/04/08   22.   #11 common sense- has its limitations 23:05  |  examiner 30/04/08   23.   JB of New York 23:41  |  El-Birawi 30/04/08   24.   go wander round the West Bank or Gaza. It`s an illegal occupation 00:21  |  Don`t Ignore Stuff 01/05/08   25.   #11 common sense- has its limitations 00:35  |  hubal 01/05/08   26.   I Don`t Ignore Stuff .. DO YOU ?? 00:44  |  I Don`t Ignore Stuff 01/05/08   27.   I don`t Ignore Stuff DO YOU ? 00:44  |  I Don`t Ignore Stuff 01/05/08   28.   I don`t Ignore Stuff DO YOU? 00:45  |  I Don`t Ignore Stuff 01/05/08   29.   I Don`t Ignore Stuff DO YOU? 00:46  |  I Don`t Ignore Stuff 01/05/08   30.   #26, DO YOU? 05:35  |  Silvienne 01/05/08   31.   Don`t Ignore Stuff invented the Mother of all deception=Al Takiya 05:37  |  Genuine Tosefta 01/05/08   32.   Hey Silvienne, Terrorism for one day only against Jews and more 08:18  |  Genuine Tosefta 01/05/08   33.   The world without b`tselem 08:36  |  isaac 01/05/08   34.   #22 El-Birawis` Spokesman 08:40  |  JP 01/05/08   35.   genuine tosefta 18 09:08  |  potobac 01/05/08   36.   potobac why do you ignore Arab crimes in Darfur? 09:32  |  Genuine Tosefta 01/05/08   37.   contradicting palestinian narrative 10:29  |  scallywag 01/05/08   38.   #32, G. Tosefta 16:53  |  Silvienne 01/05/08   39.   genuine tosefta 36 10:28  |  potobac 02/05/08   40.   B`Tselem looks quite good with egg on their face! 01:33  |  Murray the Mongoose 04/05/08

Read & React Livni: PA must ensure terrorists don`t exploit our W. Bank moves Responses: 377 IDF releases clip clearing itself of blame for Gaza family deaths Responses: 340 U.S. envoy cuts short Hebron trip after clash with settlers Responses: 235 Justice Ministry: Contrary to reports, no discussion of Olmert's suspension Responses: 154 Gaza sewage pumped into the sea over past three months Responses: 166 Rosner's Domain Carter is helping Hamas achieve their strategic goal Asali: on nationalist fantasies, religious zealotry, of Israelis/Palestinians Should Israel remain Jewish? (WTR) Super headache for superdelegates Talking about war with Iran is not necessarily bad More Headlines 05:22 Sources: New evidence against PM is substantive 05:18 ANALYSIS: Is this where it all ends for Ehud Olmert? 03:59 Rice to pressure Israel on West Bank roadblocks 02:48 Laborites: Suspicions against Olmert could spell PM's exit 03:08 Bodies of 5 Israelis killed in Bolivian crash to arrive Sunday 04:36 Kibbutznik 1948 diary longs for 'purity of that generation' 05:49 Report: Israelis arrested 363 Palestinians in West Bank in April 04:33 PA to deploy nearly 500 armed police around Jenin 05:52 Not the Guantanamo model 01:49 2 children, 1 senior citizen die in separate fires across Israel Previous Editions Select Day 02 may 01 may 30 apr 29 apr 28 apr 27 apr 25 apr 24 apr 23 apr 22 apr 21 apr 20 apr

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