Amnesty International released a report claiming that there is “strong evidence” Israel committed war crimes during an offensive launched in Gaza last year.
Following the capture of Israeli soldier Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, Israeli security forces launched an offensive into Gaza, which reportedly saw at least 135 Palestinians killed. Most of the deaths are said to have taken place in the first few hours after his capture. More than 1,000 artillery shells in Rafah and dropped more than 40 bombs were dropped on the town of Rafah during the operation.
“There is overwhelming evidence that Israeli forces committed disproportionate, or otherwise indiscriminate, attacks which killed scores of civilians in their homes, on the streets and in vehicles and injured many more,” said Amnesty International.
The report, based on joint research with the group Forensic Architecture, went on to say “public statements by Israeli army commanders and soldiers after the conflict provide compelling reasons to conclude that some attacks that killed civilians and destroyed homes and property were intentionally carried out and motivated by a desire for revenge – to teach a lesson to, or punish, the population of Rafah for the capture of Lieutenant Goldin”.
Israel meanwhile criticised the report as "fundamentally flawed in its methodologies, in its facts, in its legal analysis and in its conclusions". Calling the testimonies in the report uncorroborated, Israel claimed the non-governmental organisation had built a “false narrative” and had brought "into serious question Amnesty's professional standards".
See the full report, entitled ‘Black Friday’ Carnage in Rafah during 2014 Israel/Gaza conflict, here.