Israeli war crimes against Gazans : straight from the horses' mouths

Since we've already said it all, so many times before, this time we're staying schtum, and letting some IDF soldiers speak for themselves.

It had become increasingly evident during the beginning phases of the most recent Gaza War that the lives of ordinary Gazans had been unjustly taken or adversely affected. The systematic demolition of homes, the inappropriate usage of white phosphorus ammunition, the excessive application of violence have been called into question by various internal and external bodies and actors. As time progresses accurate, detailed, firsthand accounts concerning what truly occurred during the 22 day military campaign are surfacing.

One such attempt at exposing the events during the Gaza War was undertaken by the Israeli organization Breaking the Silence. This organization is comprised of veteran Israeli soldiers who compile testimonies from Israeli soldiers who have served or have been witness to operations in the Occupied Territories. These testimonies are then disseminated to an English and Hebrew speaking audience on their website, by print, though lectures, via other media outlets and through tours conducted in the West Bank city of Hebron.

Breaking the Silence released a 112 page document under the official codename for the Gaza war - Operation Cast Lead. This document contains testimonies from thirty Israeli soldiers who participated in the campaign. The revelations contained within corroborate many of the allegations of reprehensible wartime conduct and “[brings] into question the credibility of the official IDF versions”.

The interviews conducted explore the usage of white phosphorus, destruction of property unrelated to Israeli directives, the demolitions of homes, the use of Palestinians as human shields, the overall moral degradation of the IDF among other pertinent issue. As noted in the document, these testimonies directly challenge the IDF claim that any moral issues are not systemic, but rather concern the behavior of individual delinquent soldiers.

Read the rest of this revealing report right here.

**(Cross posted across at 'appletree')

Israel's Premier Ehud Olmert's Shameless War Crimes Statement

War crimes?

No worries.

Palestinians?

No problem.

Why?

Because the brave IDF boys were just following orders.

And anyway ~ "Israel ubber alles!"

That's why.

And please pay particular attention to the very last sentence of the BBC report. It's a blatant, inexcusable outright lie.

Hamas did not "seize control" of anywhere. They were democratically elected by the Palestinian people.

Because said election results made such a monkey of the United States and their choice of puppet/poodle, the lying American & British governments (and almost all of their respective media), were/are once again only too willing and eager to create and to perpetuate, yet one more myth.

What has lately happened to the once so credible/reliable and well respected BBC, is not only sickeningly shameful, it's downright sodding scary.

*(Cross posted across at 'appletree')

Israel's ongoing insistance on continuing it's primitive, not to mention criminal, so cleverly & carefully contrived collective punishment

If you're a supporter of collective punishment or a denier of what's been inflicted on the people of Gaza by Israeli for God alone knows how long, then may we respectfully suggest simply shoving straight off. Moreover, we'd go so far as to say it would be better for all concerned if you made said move this instant.



Better by far, we firmly believe, that you find one of the many blogs and/or websites sharing your personal uncivilised sentiments. After all, there's certainly no shortage of same.

Hamas barrage as Gaza under fire

(snip)

On Thursday, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees said it had no more food to distribute in the Gaza Strip, because of the Israeli blockade.

(snip)

John Ging, of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), said on Thursday that handouts for 750,000 Gazans would have to be suspended until Saturday at the earliest, and called Gaza's economic situation "a disaster".

Israel earlier denied entry to a convoy carrying humanitarian supplies.

(snip)

Also on Thursday, Israel refused permission for a group of senior European diplomats to visit the coastal enclave.

It has also prevented journalists, including those from the BBC, from entering the territory.

(snip)

The current round of clashes and rocket fire began on 5 November when Israeli troops entered Gaza to destroy what Israel said was a tunnel dug by militants to abduct its troops.

One militant died in the gunfight, and a subsequent Israeli air strike on Hamas positions in southern Gaza killed at least five fighters.

Hamas responded with a barrage of rockets fired into Israel.

Read the rest of this report.

Then read this one.

And, be sure not to miss this, re : Israel's latest lot of atrocious anti-Muslim activities in Jerusalem.



Tolerance?

More like tripe.

Talk about trying to insult the wider world's collective intelligence.

Without doubt, the souls of all those European Jews who suffered so much as a result of similarly shocking, rampant elitism being allowed to continue unchecked untill, sadly, it was far too late to save them, surely must be crying screaming out right now; as must the stones themselves.

For shame.

The kindest thing we can, in all conscience, call such coldly calculated and patently, purposely provocative sorts of sinfully shameful, officially state sponsored, abominable actions is, to say the least, horrifically hypocritical and unarguably indefensible, pure "clap-trap".



We wonder what Simon Wiesenthal himself would say?

Since we're absolutely certain that such a special man simply couldn't stay silent on this score.


[Hat-tip to 'sparrowchat']

*(Cross posted across at 'appletree')

'Public Committee Against Torture in Israel' : Special Indictment Edition ...

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We don't suppose it's any sort of 'scoop' to say that a special relationship between the US and Israel has been discovered ...



... nor, to a slightly lesser extent, lots of long standing, shameless UK-Israel joint bloody ventures.



However, it may come as a surprise to certain parties, to be informed of some of Israel's ever increasing 'invisible imports'- especially, some shipped across the Atlantic from some of their so patently supremacist/racist, ever over-eager to assist, 'big-bucks-boys' brothers and/or allies in America.



Including (criminal), collective punishment practices.

As well as, apparently, some old fashioned low-life, low-tech, low-cost, torture techniques.

JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli security services use family members of Palestinian prisoners to apply "illegal psychological pressure" and force detainees to confess, a new report on torture released on Sunday said.

The 83-page report by the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel revealed the use of interrogation methods condemned as torture or ill treatment under international law, which "cause severe psychological suffering to interrogees and to their innocent relatives," it said in a statement.

It cited six detailed cases and said agents of Israel's internal security service Shin Beth often told prisoners that loved ones were also in detention and being tortured.

In one case, such pressure led the prisoner to attempt suicide several times, the report said.

Read the rest of the relevant report right here.

But before we sign off, we want to state as plainly and clearly as we possibly can that we're making no apology for publishing this particularly appalling photograph, once again.



Remember this poor Palestinian kid? The little lad so petrified by some despicable, pathetic pricks in the IDF, that he quite literally peed his pants?

The truth is that over the years we've learned that many, many big brave IDF poorly trained, undisciplined conscripts have long had habits of forging some special relationships of their own. And, perhaps not too surprisingly, so often so many of these shameful relationships seem to involve showing their 'strength' by shoving around innocent, civilian infants.



We wonder what this lovely little Palestian boy will be when he grows up. Eh?

Always assuming of course, that the lad's lucky enough to be allowed to.

Incidentally, we used to have a couple of authentic videos filed away on our previous PC showing children being used by Israeli soldiers as human shields. Maybe a reader can help us out/back us up on this.

For the record, one video shows a child being forced (by some IDF heroes), to enter houses/buildings about to be seached - in front of said heroes themselves.

Another shows a kid sat/stuck on the bonnet/hood of one of their patrol vehicles, and securely strapped there by being bound (by his arm), to the front windscreen's metal grill.

Quite a lot longer ago we watched with horror the video footage of a hidden TV cameraman's irefutable evidence of the work of the worst of the IDF's uniformed neanderthals.

A kid had thrown some stones at their patrol then run away. Several of them - chased and eventually caught the kid. Some of them forced the lad onto his knees and held him there while others, using large heavy rocks, deliberately, systematically and mercilessly pounded the lad's wrists, arms, elbows, shoulders and shoulder blades.

We never did get to see the victim's actual injuries at close quarters, nor did we ever learn what happened to him afterwards. But of one thing you can be certain, those injuries must have been horrific. At the very least, the lad must have been maimed for life. At worst, unless treated expertly and quickly, they may well have (eventually), proved fatal.

We'll never know the final outcome for the unfortunate victim involved. And we'll never forget what unforgivable wanton wickedness we witnessed.

We swear, by whatever and/or whoever anyone wants us to, that what we've just said we saw ... is true.

So help us.

*** UPDATE ***

Our sincere thanks to 'MO' who just emailed some "human shield" links.

*(Cross posted at appletree)

Yesh Din, Israel, Palestinians and Kangaroo Military Courts ...

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Oy, vey!

Guilty, schmilty, blah-blah, whatever.

Hands up who knew the Israeli military regularly hold kangaroo courts for Palestinians.

JERUSALEM - Israel's military court system for Palestinian suspects in the West Bank produces almost automatic convictions, an Israeli human rights group charged Sunday.

The group, Yesh Din, עברית عربية ...
... said in a new report that in 2006 more than 99.7 percent of those accused were convicted, 95 percent in plea bargains.

Yesh Din said its inquiry, which included attending more than 800 hearings and conducting extensive interviews with lawyers and court staff, concluded that suspects were often unable to present a full defense with effective counsel.

(snip)

The Yesh Din report said, however, that military court proceedings can be startlingly brief, citing a study of 38 hearings where prosecutors sought to extend suspects' detention in custody until the end of case, which generally means remand for a year or more.

Of those 38 hearings, Yesh Din says, seven lasted between two and four minutes, 19 lasted between one and two minutes and 12 were over in less than a minute.

(snip)

Hearings were held in Hebrew and simultaneous translation into Arabic was mainly carried out by conscript soldiers rather than professional interpreters, with the result that suspects, and their attorneys, often did not understand the charges.

"Most are detained in Israel and their attorneys are not able to meet them," said Michael Sfard, Yesh Din's legal counsel. In addition, minors were often tried as adults and detained at length before being charged.

Read the rest of this news report.

Then, see for yourself what Yesh Din's own website says on this subject.

So, who was it who said "Shalom" ?

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