Beit Lahiyeh in northern Israel was hit by an Israeli airstrike on a residential building, killing at least 56 people – most of them civilians evacuating as part of an Israel-backed evacuation plan.
The strike devastated Mohammed Khalifa’s home and killed all members of his family – bodies were discovered both inside and outside their dwelling.
What happened?
United Nations officials have expressed alarm over Israel’s air and ground offensive against militants in Gaza’s dense refugee camps. One attack struck at home of local television journalist, killing both himself and 14 other family members according to officials at Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital nearby.
UN aid agencies voiced concern at Israel’s massive military operation in Jenin refugee camp, which began with a drone strike Monday and escalated through multiple steps this week. Hamas militants claimed retaliatory car-ramming and stabbing attacks against Tel Aviv residents as revenge against this raid; no incidents have been reported so far in Jenin itself.
On Friday in response to recent violence, the Security Council will meet behind closed doors in an attempt to find a resolution. But, in previous resolutions that called for an urgent ceasefire, US vetoes have prevented its passage; and this week it successfully removed tougher language which would have highlighted Israel’s right to self-defense.
Who were the victims?
Ghalia al-Attar and her family made every attempt to repair their home after it was damaged during last summer’s war between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that rules Gaza, but winter brought with it cold nights and torrential downpours that seeped in through cracks in walls and roof. Now leakage was back through their cracks again.
Amnesty International has documented instances where Israeli forces failed to notify civilians they would be evacuating buildings or streets where people resided, or provided unclear “evacuation” orders with no specific timeframe for when residents should leave – leading them to commit war crimes by killing and injuring innocent civilians.
The IDF claims it only targeted military infrastructure in a building it bombed and any subsequent damages caused were unintended; but for families in the affected area this may provide little solace. NPR’s Sheilah Kast has taken us inside their lives.
What caused the strike?
This attack comes following months of Israeli attacks in northern Gaza; NPR has previously documented some of their consequences.
Residents of Sderot have become accustomed to airstrikes as an ever-present and alarming reality. Unable to defend against rockets aimed at Israel from outside, residents have found themselves helpless against their attacks; one incident involved a Kassam rocket hitting directly on one house while its inhabitants were inside; they all received mild injuries as a result of this hit.
Arafat al-Massri, 57, says an airstrike hit his building while his wife and daughters were sleeping on the first-floor apartment of their home in Cairo. When he tried to take them upstairs to safety during this attack, soldiers prevented him from doing so and blocked an ambulance crew from entering his building when he called out for assistance.
Counterterror activities near the northern Gaza Strip security fence uncovered a tunnel shaft filled with tools used for digging tunnels used by terrorists to enter Israel or plant bombs under IDF posts, according to IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari. Hamas is said to be using this area as part of their preparations against Israel.
What are the implications?
Israel views homes that are being used for military purposes as legitimate targets; however, according to international humanitarian law they must receive sufficient advance warning so they may leave. Human Rights Watch investigations revealed instances in which Israeli forces gave civilians short notice – barely enough time for them to reach bomb shelters before attacking.
Said Ghafour was home when an airstrike struck, devastating his home and damaging several nearby properties, as well as his car parked outside, killing its driver in the process.
Back in July, Zakarneh told NPR of his desire to relocate his family from Iran to America, where his wife and one daughter are American citizens. Since then, that desire has only grown more pressing: he feels as if “we’re in a deathtrap here” where their lives could end soon. To escape it all, they’ve moved with relatives outside town where he says they won’t be permitted back home anytime soon.
