Israel ’shot dead unarmed civilians’ – HRW

August 13, 2009 by Infowars Ireland

www.rte.ie

Human Rights Watch has said Israeli soldiers shot dead 11 Palestinian civilians who were waving white flags during the Gaza conflict.

It has called on the Israeli government to investigate the incidents during the 22-day conflict.

The group said other governments should press for prosecutions under international law over incidents in the conflict, if Israel and Gaza’s authorities failed to act themselves.

Human Rights Watch said it had statements and other evidence indicating 11 unarmed people, including five women and four children, were shot dead while in groups waving white flags.

‘These casualties comprise a small fraction of the Palestinian civilians wounded and killed,’ it said.

‘But they stand out because, in each case, the victims were standing, walking or in slowly-moving vehicles with other unarmed civilians, and were trying to convey their non-combatant status by waving a white flag.

‘All available evidence indicates that Israeli forces were in control of the areas in question, no fighting was taking place there at the time, and no Palestinian forces were hiding among the civilians or using them as human shields.’ Read full article…