In Gaza war, Israeli house strikes killed mostly civilians

The youngest to die was a 4-day-old girl, the oldest a 92-year-old man. They were among at least 844 Palestinians killed as a result of airstrikes on Gaza homes during Israel’s summer war with the Islamic militant group, Hamas. The Associated Press examined 247 airstrikes, interviewing witnesses, visiting attack sites and compiling a detailed casualty count. Israel says it tried to avoid harming civilians, even as Hamas embedded weapons and fighters in residential areas.

Our position is very clear. Israel did not commit war crimes.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon

Advocacy groups and U.N. investigators have said that Hamas’ battle tactics over the years, including indiscriminate rocket fire at Israel, amount to war crimes. The number of civilian deaths has been a key issue in the highly charged battle over the dominant narrative of the 50-day war and convict Israel of war crimes. Under the rules of war, homes are protected civilian sites unless used for military purposes. Gaza militants fired about 4,300 rockets and mortar rounds at Israel, according to the Israeli military. Israel would not say how many of its 5,000 air attacks were directed at homes. However, it insists it only aimed at legitimate military targets.

[It] raises a red flag and suggests that further investigation is warranted.

Alex Whiting, a former top official at the International Criminal Court

Middle East