Relatives of Palestinian children killed by IDF mourn before their funeral (AP)In the long and gruesome annals of IDF mayhem against children, this one deserves a special place of shame. It seems that three Palestinian Bedouins, 10-year-old Mahmoud Ghazal, his 12-year-old cousin, Yehiya Ghazal, and their 10-year-old cousin Sara Ghazal were playing tag last Tuesday in a Beit Hanun field just outside their home as children are wont to do. These particular kids had made a very bad mistake in playing near Palestinian rocket launchers. It so happens the launchers were being monitored by Israeli aerial reconnaissance. When the IDF saw the children approaching the launchers it too made a fateful error by assuming they were activating them. According to the IDF, while it saw the children approaching the launchers it only noticed they were children after artillery fire had been launched:
The Israel Defense Forces said the children were killed after an army ground unit fired on Qassam launchers in the area. The launchers, which were pointed at Israel, were deployed in fields just outside Beit Hanun, near the Ghazal family’s home. According to the IDF, troops detected “unidentified movement and opened fire.”
…The probe, which was launched immediately after the incident, determined that the children were playing tag near the launchers, as revealed by army footage recording the incident. The video reportedly shows the children – who appear as figures whose age cannot be determined – approaching the launchers and then moving back, in a way that could be seen as suggesting that they were loading the launchers with rockets.
The terrain did not allow for direct observation of the area, so the army had to rely on aerial photography. The unit that launched the missile at the children used this visual feed to direct their fire, army sources told Haaretz.
The video does show one of the figures to be a child, army sources said, but this happened so close to the moment of impact that the troops were unable to abort in time.
This is what happens when the IDF acts hastily, indiscriminately and without sufficient technical means to ensure it has selected a valid target. It did not have the technical means to discriminate whether the individuals were adults terrorists or innocent children. Instead, it presumed the former with disastrous results. Disastrous only for feeling human beings. The IDF will certainly shed few tears and express perfunctory regret. After all, these were only Palestinian children and Bedouin at that.
Finally, if IDF video of the attack viewed after the attack showed clearly the children WERE children and playing tag, why couldn’t the IDF video taken BEFORE the attack have shown the same image?
May the childrens’ families be comforted in their sorrow and loss. And may the gunner who targeted them have many sleepless nights imagining the cries of these children after the shell hit.
Let’s see if this shows up in the News, and if it does how much space it gets. Let’s see if the NYPost puts it in 2 Inch letters like they did when an Israeli young woman was killed a few years ago. Let’s see if we read about these children’s parents, about their hopes and dreams.
I still remember all the details in the Post, how this young Israeli woman played piano, and I wept for her.
I’d like Americans to weep for these children too.
Don’t think it will happen.
Rhetorical question:
What makes some lives worth more than others?
–ellen
Just a scenario, if the Palestinians wouldn’t keep launching rockets then maybe the IDF wouldn’t have to retalliate. Just maybe.
Did you read your own post one looked like a child the others “who appear as figures whose age cannot be determined – approaching the launchers and then moving back, in a way that could be seen as suggesting that they were loading the launchers with rockets.”
How much more care should they take…wait till another Kassam lands in a sedrot nursery school? and how about the fact that Hamas was using those children as human shields. I weep for those kids, but I weep for their parents who allow them to be used as pawns in the Hamas game, and I weep for people like you who tell only part of the story
Sammy
There is no way that you or anyone else can justify the actions of the IDF!
Carson
BARBADOS
But carson It is ok for hamas to use their children as Human Shields —as I said I mourn for those kids..but the blame for their deaths fall squarly on the shoulders of the People that put them in residential areas–and there is no way you or anyone else can justify that
The facts of this post are correct, but the moral tone is wrong. People seem to forget that the Hamas is in charge of the Gaza strip. And they are in control. They proved this when they handily eliminated Fatah from the strip and when they secured the release of BBC hostage Alan Johnston. If kassam rockets are fired from the Gaza strip at Israeli residences in Sderot and other communities it is because the Hamas lets it happen. And if this is done from inside or nearby residential areas endangering the local Palestinian population, then it is because the Hamas lets it happen. Maybe it’s the Hamas that doesn’t care about Palestinian Bedouins. When the Hamas and Fatah start loving Palestinian children as much as they hate Isaeli ones, a path to peace will be found.
If I live in a house and someone comes and puts rocket launchers there they are intermittently used to fire rockets at civilians living 10-15 miles away and occasionally those rockets land on someone’s house, elementary school or store… why wouldn’t I expect that the people in the town 10 miles away are not going to try and take out those rocket launchers… why would I let my kids ever get anywhere near those rocket launchers… which are used to maim and murder other people…..
These farmers could have simply been innocent people whom Hamas threatened to use their farm or else… or they could be people who willingly and gladly let Hamas or Islamic Jihad shoot rockets into Sderot…
Either way most of the blame should be at the cause of this… shooting rockets daily into Sderot at Civilians… Israel was trying to take out those rocket launchers to save Israeli lives… and in war you can not be perfect.
If Mr. Silverstein has proof that instead the IDF superiors simply felt like murdering a few kids because they had nothing better to do, than let him provide that proof… otherwise his sanctimonious preaching is getting a bit much even for him….
Mr. Silverstein’s writes these posts trying to posit himself and simply and unbiased pro Palestinian and pro Israel “independent” observer, a morally superior being if you will……
The sanctimony dripping off of his descriptions is sickening… almost as sickening… but not as – as using kids as human shields.
Also the fact that he added “and Bedouin at that” for just an extra dose of sanctimony is so sad it’s pathetic….
You’re not even getting IDF propaganda straight. The first statement fr. the IDF was that the children were working for Hamas. Then they ditched that argument when they watched their own video footage which clearly showed they were playing.
The bit about human shields is preposterous. Just out & out propaganda. These children had nothing to do w. Hamas & you know it. You’re a vile, poisonous propagandist w. no regard for the truth.
@Amir:
The old Golda Meir saw: so tired, so old, so irrelevant, so trite. Can’t you trot out anything fresher to impugn Palestinian motives?
@JC:
Ah, I see. It’s the parents fault. Do you have children? Doubtless not. Because if you did you’d realize that you cannot know every second of every day where dangers lurk for them. Suppose the rocket launchers had been placed there after you last checked your childrens’ whereabouts? Suppose the children went to play near them & you didn’t even know they were there? Suppose fr. yr vantage pt. you couldn’t see where the rocket launchers were & so couldn’t tell the children to move away.
At any rate, this is just blaming the victim. It doesn’t work when a defense attorney attempts to impeach a rape victim on the stand & it looks shabby when you try it here as well.
More obtuseness. The article said the launchers were near there house. It didn’t say they were on their property or that they had any say or control over the launchers. Besides, if men with guns come and place a rocket launcher in the vicinity of your house what would you do? Argue w. them? You talk big fr. the comfort of yr nice home wherever you live. But put yrself for once in yr life in the shoes of a Palestinian & try to imagine life as they live it (impossible as that would be for you to do I realize).
That certainly sets the record straight. You can’t be perfect. So you kill a few thousand innocent civilians along the way. Just collateral damage. Couldn’t be helped. Not our fault. Their fault if anyone’s. Glad you sleep soundly at night & nothing intrudes on yr conscience. Must be nice to feel such moral superiority.
Did you drop yr reading glasses somewhere along the way? I didn’t say they wanted to murder children. I said their technical intelligence inadequacy should’ve made them realize they didn’t have a clean shot & they shouldn’t have taken one till they did. When you make blundering decisions like this then negligent killing is the result.
Then take a few Tums to settle yr stomach. And you’ve just sent the purple prose meter deep into the red zone. You just don’t want anyone badmouthing the IDF and find it revolting that someone who supports Israel would do so.
Tired, old and trite but true. Originality is overrated: http://curmudgeonjoy.blogspot.com/2007/07/originality.html
Your arrogance and condescension is nothing short of astounding..
You get off on wanting to feel like you can talk down to others… or at least “feel like” you can. I wonder do you actually talk that way to people in person? I doubt it.
Seemingly the idea that you want a “discussion” is almost as trite as the Golda Meir reference.
I’ll reply to your long winded sanctimonious post later.
I’d rather enjoy the beautiful day.
Touche. I do like the fact that despite our disagreements we can usually do so w. a bit of humor as you evinced here. Maybe you can talk JC down fr. that high horse he’s mounted & fr. which he’s perilously close to falling down & breaking his crown.
Horrible tragedy. My heart goes out to the parents. While I strongly oppose the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and can’t wait for them to come to their sense and get the hell out, I can’t muster a whole lot of anger towards the IDF in this tragedy. They are charged with protecting the citizens of Israel, both Jewish and Arab, and they must assume that any missle rocketed into Israel is lethal. Obviously it would be ideal if they could differentiate who is a genuine threat and who isn’t, but thanks to Hamas and fellow travelers this becomes very difficult. As a parent I can’t imagine the horrible pain the parents of these kids must be in.
Richard – Please take this in the positive spirit I intend, you should meditate seriously on the feedback you’ve received today. While you may be “right” on the issues, your form is all wrong, man.
Hmmm… and what do you do when a group of 3, 4, or 5 years-old children in Sderot have to run to shelters in less than 18 seconds, fearing for their life? Do you care to share a tear when the victim is not Arab?!
I deeply resent comments like this which claim I do not care for Jewish suffering. You have NO RIGHT to question my ahavat yisrael. So don’t do it!
Unlike you, I care about the suffering or everyone in this conflict, whether they be Israeli or Palestinian. That is what drives you crazy. In yr world bounded by the teachings of Rav Kahane, you cannot fathom someone pained by the suffering of a non-Jew. There we differ.
Why Cant he question it–your post questions the IDFs love of Humanity…but you didnt mention at all the suffering of the people in sedrot—its a very fair question
Actually Rich, I would like you to reference one column you’ve written that stated that Israel was not the quilty party and that American Jews who support Israel are not evil. Its not what you write, its not how you are
My name is not Rich. And I’d ask you to address me by the name I do use instead of the various insulting ones you’ve used in comments I have not published here.
This is an annoying game: prove to me you don’t hate Israel. I don’t play the game. But Bill there are scores of posts I’ve written critical of Palestinian militant groups who use terror. During the Lebanon war I denounced Hezbollah’s terror campaign against Israel. I’ve also denounced rocket attacks from Gaza against Israeli civilians. I’m sure you’re technically adept enough to use Google to find the references if you care to. But this of course wouldn’t be satisfactory for you since I also denounced Israel’s terror campaign against Lebanon and its failed campaigns in Gaza.
Regarding your comment about American Jews allegedly being evil. That’s not what I say. It’s what YOU say I say. I don’t generally think of American Jews as evil unless they wish cancer or rape on me or state I should be tried at Nuremberg trials for crimes against the Jewish people (all of which have actually happened).
@SammyBenoit:
Because I said he can’t, that’s why. I don’t let anyone question my love for Israel. Period.
Not exactly. My post questions the value the IDF places on Palestinian humanity. I have no doubt they value Israeli humanity as I do. But the fact that Palestinian life is worth nothing compared to Israeli life, that’s an attitude I have a problem with.
I have spoken to this issue in this blog before. Hopefully, you’ll care enough about what I write here to find it. I oppose rocket attacks against Israel. I opposed Hezbollah’s attacks against Israel. I oppose violence on both sides.
And I have no problem with the IDF attacking those who shell Israel. I have no problem with the IDF defending Israel and Israelis. But I do have a problem with obscuring the boundary between defending Israel and assaulting Palestinian civilians.