Israel Matzav

Findings of IDF Inquiry of the UNRWA School Incident in Beit Hanoun

The IDF held a press conference today regarding last week's incident involving a UNRWA school on the Beit Hanoun launch pad. The text is from the press conference and not from the link.

Since Thursday, July 24, 2014, the IDF has conducted a comprehensive inquiry regarding the incident in which the UNRWA school was fired upon. The inquiry concluded that during the intense fighting between IDF forces and Hamas militants, the militants operated adjacent to the UNRWA school. The militants fired anti-tank missiles at IDF soldiers, who then responded by firing several mortars in their direction.

The inquiry and the documented footage presented here concluded that a single errant mortar landed in the courtyard of the UNRWA school, when it was completely empty....

The IDF stresses it does not operate or target international organizations in the Gaza Strip, and the ongoing coordination conducted via the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) is continuous without change, even during times of combat.

In light of the inquiry's findings, the IDF rejects the claims that were made by various officials immediately following the incident, that people were killed in the school premises as a result of IDF operational activity.

Let's go to the videotape.

Labels: Chris Gunness, civilian casualties, Gaza, Hamas, human shields, IDF, UNRWA

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:06 PM