Changes

*Hamas was condemned for its use of human shields by the [[EU]] in July-2014;<ref>[https://www.jpost.com/operation-protective-edge/eu-calls-on-hamas-to-disarm-condemns-use-of-civilians-as-shields-368509 EU calls on Hamas to disarm, condemns use of civilians as shields] Herb Keinon. JPost, July 22, 2014</ref> by the <font size=1>(routinely anti-Israel)</font> [[HRW]] in Aug, 2009;<ref name=hrw2009>[https://www.hrw.org/report/2009/08/06/rockets-gaza/harm-civilians-palestinian-armed-groups-rocket-attacks Harm to Civilians from Palestinian Armed Groups’ Rocket Attacks], HRW, August 6, 2009.

*Hamas was condemned for its use of human shields by the [[EU]] in July-2014;<ref>[https://www.jpost.com/operation-protective-edge/eu-calls-on-hamas-to-disarm-condemns-use-of-civilians-as-shields-368509 EU calls on Hamas to disarm, condemns use of civilians as shields] Herb Keinon. JPost, July 22, 2014</ref> by the <font size=1>(routinely anti-Israel)</font> [[HRW]] in Aug, 2009;<ref name=hrw2009>[https://www.hrw.org/report/2009/08/06/rockets-gaza/harm-civilians-palestinian-armed-groups-rocket-attacks Harm to Civilians from Palestinian Armed Groups’ Rocket Attacks], HRW, August 6, 2009.

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This 31-page report documents attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups since November 2008 that killed three Israeli civilians and seriously injured dozens of others, damaged property and forced residents to leave their homes. The rockets unlawfully struck populated areas up to 40 kilometers inside Israel, placing roughly 800,000 Israeli civilians at risk. Rockets that fell short of their intended targets in Israel killed two girls and wounded others in Gaza during this period. Palestinian armed groups that launched rockets from densely populated areas also unlawfully put Gaza civilians at risk of Israeli counterstrikes...

This 31-page report documents attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups since November 2008 that killed three Israeli civilians and seriously injured dozens of others, damaged property and forced residents to leave their homes. The rockets unlawfully struck populated areas up to 40 kilometers inside Israel, placing roughly 800,000 Israeli civilians at risk. Rockets that fell short of their intended targets in Israel killed two girls and wounded others in Gaza during this period. Palestinian armed groups that launched rockets from densely populated areas also unlawfully put Gaza civilians at risk of Israeli counterstrikes...

The rocket attacks have caused civilian casualties and property damage. Civilian structures damaged in recent attacks include a kindergarten, a synagogue and private homes.  An Israeli early warning siren system, which gives civilians roughly 10 to 45 seconds to find cover in prepared shelters, depending on their distance from the launch site in Gaza, has undoubtedly limited the number of civilian casualties.  However, the repeated attacks have, over months and even years, taken a psychological toll on the population in areas close to Gaza.  The laws of war prohibit attacks the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population.  Because of the rocket attacks, thousands of people have moved away from frequently targeted areas such as Sderot municipality.

The rocket attacks have caused civilian casualties and property damage. Civilian structures damaged in recent attacks include a kindergarten, a synagogue and private homes.  An Israeli early warning siren system, which gives civilians roughly 10 to 45 seconds to find cover in prepared shelters, depending on their distance from the launch site in Gaza, has undoubtedly limited the number of civilian casualties.  However, the repeated attacks have, over months and even years, taken a psychological toll on the population in areas close to Gaza.  The laws of war prohibit attacks the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population.  Because of the rocket attacks, thousands of people have moved away from frequently targeted areas such as Sderot municipality.

The rocket attacks have also placed civilians in Gaza at risk.  The unpredictable nature of the crude rockets has meant that rockets have struck areas not only inside Israel but also inside Gaza; on December 26 a rocket hit a house in Beit Lahiya, killing two Palestinian girls, ages 5 and 12.  In addition, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups have frequently violated the laws of war by firing rockets from within populated areas.  In doing so, they failed to take all feasible precautions to avoid placing military targets within densely populated areas, such as by removing civilians under their control from the vicinity of military targets, and protecting civilians from the danger resulting from military operations...

'''The rocket attacks have also placed civilians in Gaza at risk'''.  The unpredictable nature of the crude rockets has meant that rockets have struck areas not only inside Israel but also inside Gaza; on December 26 a rocket hit a house in Beit Lahiya, killing two Palestinian girls, ages 5 and 12.  In addition, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups have frequently violated the laws of war by firing rockets from within populated areas.  In doing so, they failed to take all feasible precautions to avoid placing military targets within densely populated areas, such as by removing civilians under their control from the vicinity of military targets, and protecting civilians from the danger resulting from military operations...

Cease conducting attacks from locations near populated areas in Gaza in violation of international humanitarian law requiring all feasible precautions to protect civilians from the effects of attacks, and avoid locating military objectives in densely populated areas...

Cease conducting attacks from locations near populated areas in Gaza in violation of international humanitarian law requiring all feasible precautions to protect civilians from the effects of attacks, and avoid locating military objectives in densely populated areas...

This report concerns rocket attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on civilian population centers in Israel since November 2008. ..

This report concerns rocket attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on civilian population centers in Israel since November 2008. ..

Firing Rockets from Populated Areas

'''Firing Rockets from Populated Areas'''

Numerous Palestinians in Gaza told Human Rights Watch that during the course of Israel’s aerial campaign and subsequent invasion of Gaza in late December and early January, members of Palestinian armed groups redeployed from more open and outlying regions – many of which were either controlled by Israeli ground forces or “covered” by armed aerial drones, helicopters, and fighter aircraft – into densely populated urban areas.  The International Crisis Group quoted an Islamic Jihad fighter as saying, “the most important thing is achieving our military goals,” among which was to continue firing rockets in defiance of the stated Israeli aim to end the rocket attacks.  He told the Crisis Group, “We stay away from the houses if we can, but that’s often impossible.” 

Numerous Palestinians in Gaza told Human Rights Watch that during the course of Israel’s aerial campaign and subsequent invasion of Gaza in late December and early January, members of Palestinian armed groups redeployed from more open and outlying regions – many of which were either controlled by Israeli ground forces or “covered” by armed aerial drones, helicopters, and fighter aircraft – into '''densely populated urban areas'''.  The International Crisis Group quoted an Islamic Jihad fighter as saying, “the most important thing is achieving our military goals,” among which was to continue firing rockets in defiance of the stated Israeli aim to end the rocket attacks.  He told the Crisis Group, “We stay away from the houses if we can, but that’s often impossible.” 

While fighting in urban areas is not prohibited under the laws of war, parties to a conflict are obligated to adopt measures to minimize the risk to the civilian population. During the recent fighting and at other times, Palestinian armed groups have placed fellow Palestinians at grave risk of Israeli counter-attacks by firing rockets from within or near populated areas.  In doing so, they violate the laws of war by failing to take all feasible precautions to avoid placing military targets within or near densely populated areas, to remove civilians under their control from the vicinity of military targets, and to protect civilians from the danger resulting from military operations.

While fighting in urban areas is not prohibited under the laws of war, parties to a conflict are obligated to adopt measures to minimize the risk to the civilian population. During the recent fighting and at other times, Palestinian armed groups have placed fellow Palestinians at grave risk of Israeli counter-attacks by firing rockets from within or near populated areas.  In doing so, they violate the laws of war by failing to take all feasible precautions to avoid placing military targets within or near densely populated areas, to remove civilians under their control from the vicinity of military targets, and to protect civilians from the danger resulting from military operations.

According to the doctor, residents of the area felt endangered and angered by the militants’ use of their area as a launching site.  Two weeks before the rocket hit his home, he said, “another rocket fell short, but the people where the rocket landed didn’t know the name of the person responsible, and I think they were too afraid to ask.” He and his neighbors “went to the political leaders in the area and complained, and later they gave me money to repair the windows, though not the damage inside the house.” The authorities made no promises to stop the rocket fire, he added.

According to the doctor, residents of the area felt endangered and angered by the militants’ use of their area as a launching site.  Two weeks before the rocket hit his home, he said, “another rocket fell short, but the people where the rocket landed didn’t know the name of the person responsible, and I think they were too afraid to ask.” He and his neighbors “went to the political leaders in the area and complained, and later they gave me money to repair the windows, though not the damage inside the house.” The authorities made no promises to stop the rocket fire, he added.

As noted, parties to a conflict violate the laws of war when they fail to take all feasible precautions to avoid placing forces, weapons, and ammunition within or near densely populated areas. Deliberately using civilians to deter attacks on military targets amounts to “human shielding,” which is a war crime In the preceding cases, Human Rights Watch either could not determine or the evidence did not indicate that militants launched rockets from areas close to civilians with the intention of deterring Israeli forces from counter-attacking.  The International Crisis Group interviewed three Hamas fighters in January who said they “often fired [rockets] in close proximity to homes and from alleys, hoping that nearby civilians would deter Israel from responding”  -- indicating the intent to use civilians as shields.  The Crisis Group’s report and the staff who conducted the interviews did not provide further details or specific cases of shielding. The Crisis Group reported that after the conflict, some Gaza residents unsuccessfully “urged a government investigation of, and accountability for, fighters who endangered civilians” by firing from populated areas...</i></ref> by [[Amnesty International]] in March-2015;<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde21/1178/2015/en/ STATE OF PALESTINE: UNLAWFUL AND DEADLY: ROCKET AND MORTAR ATTACKS BY PALESTINIAN ARMED GROUPS DURING THE 2014 GAZA/ISRAEL CONFLICT]

As noted, parties to a conflict violate the laws of war when they fail to take all feasible precautions to avoid placing forces, weapons, and ammunition within or near densely populated areas. Deliberately using civilians to deter attacks on military targets amounts to “human shielding,” which is a war crime In the preceding cases, Human Rights Watch either could not determine or the evidence did not indicate that militants launched rockets from areas close to civilians with the intention of deterring Israeli forces from counter-attacking.  The International Crisis Group interviewed three Hamas fighters in January who said they “often fired [rockets] in close proximity to homes and from alleys, hoping that nearby civilians would deter Israel from responding”  -- indicating the intent to use civilians as shields.  The Crisis Group’s report and the staff who conducted the interviews did not provide further details or specific cases of shielding. The Crisis Group reported that after the conflict, some Gaza residents unsuccessfully “urged a government investigation of, and accountability for, fighters who endangered civilians” by firing from populated areas...</i></font></ref> by [[Amnesty International]] in March-2015;<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde21/1178/2015/en/ STATE OF PALESTINE: UNLAWFUL AND DEADLY: ROCKET AND MORTAR ATTACKS BY PALESTINIAN ARMED GROUPS DURING THE 2014 GAZA/ISRAEL CONFLICT]

26 March 2015, Index number: MDE 21/1178/2015.<blockquote>

26 March 2015, Index number: MDE 21/1178/2015.<blockquote>

During the Gaza/Israel conflict in July and August 2014, Palestinian armed groups fired thousands of rockets and mortars at Israel, in many cases directed towards Israeli civilians and civilian objects, in violation of international law. The conduct of Palestinian armed groups, including firing from residential areas and using indiscriminate munitions that cannot be accurately directed at a military target, also endangered civilians in Gaza.</blockquote></ref><ref>[https://m.dailykos.com/stories/1378747 Hamas guilty of war crimes - Amnesty International] DK, Apr 19, 2015</ref> <font size=1>(a body which is rather obsessed with anti-Israelism)</font>, in April-2018 by the EU,<ref>[https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/172755-180420-eu-condemns-hamas-for-using-civilians-as-human-shields EU Condemns Hamas For Using Civilians As Human Shields], i24 News, Apr 20, 2018</ref> and by the [[UN]] in June-2018.<ref>[https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-praises-un-condemnation-of-terrorists-use-of-human-shields/amp/ Israel praises UN condemnation of terrorists’ use of human shields]. TOI Staff and AP, June 27, 2018.

During the Gaza/Israel conflict in July and August 2014, Palestinian armed groups fired thousands of rockets and mortars at Israel, in many cases directed towards Israeli civilians and civilian objects, in violation of international law. The conduct of Palestinian armed groups, including firing from residential areas and using indiscriminate munitions that cannot be accurately directed at a military target, also endangered civilians in Gaza.</blockquote></ref><ref>[https://m.dailykos.com/stories/1378747 Hamas guilty of war crimes - Amnesty International] DK, Apr 19, 2015</ref> <font size=1>(a body which is rather obsessed with anti-Israelism)</font>, in April-2018 by the EU,<ref>[https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/172755-180420-eu-condemns-hamas-for-using-civilians-as-human-shields EU Condemns Hamas For Using Civilians As Human Shields], i24 News, Apr 20, 2018</ref> and by the [[UN]] in June-2018.<ref>[https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-praises-un-condemnation-of-terrorists-use-of-human-shields/amp/ Israel praises UN condemnation of terrorists’ use of human shields]. TOI Staff and AP, June 27, 2018.