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Whadda you know! Israel declares itself innocent - yet again!

So much for Israel's IDF allegedly being the most moral army in the world - and the country itself having a proper judicial system and Rule of Law.   Yet another example of Israel declaring itself innocent of a crime witnessed by many independent people.

"The Israeli military announced Thursday it has exonerated itself for killing four children on a beach in Gaza during last summer's seven-week military assault on the besieged strip, prompting expressions of outrage and demands for justice from family members and international journalists who witnessed the attack.

"There is no justice in the internal investigation," declared Mohammed Bakr, father of 11-year-old Mohammad Ramiz Bakr, who was slain in the bombing along with his cousins Ahed Atef Bakr (10), Zakariya Ahed Bakr (10), and Ismail Mahmoud Bakr (9).

"We are counting on the [International Criminal Court] and human rights," added the bereaved father. "We are not afraid and we are confident we will win because the world is with us."

On July 16 of last year, the children were struck and killed by Israeli explosives while they played soccer on Gaza City's beach. In addition to the four who were slain, three people aged 11 to 21 were severely wounded.

Tragically, the attack was not unique. The Israeli air war and ground invasion, politically and financially backed by the United States, was waged against one of the most densely-populated areas in the world, where roughly half of residents are children and Palestinians are not able to leave due to a military blockade and siege. At least 2,145 Palestinians were killed in 50 days, the vast majority of them civilians and at least 578 of them children.

However, because the beach attack was waged in plain view of a hotel patronized by international journalists, it was thrust into the global media spotlight, with many prominent reporters serving as direct eye-witnesses and some even aiding the wounded."

****

"The military's version of events were quickly called into question by witnesses, including The Guardian's Peter Beaumont, who pointed out the following discrepancies:

  • Beaumont was never contacted for a statement despite being a willing witness.
  • The numerous journalists in the area found no evidence of Hamas combatants near the site at the time of the attack.
  • The bombing occurred at a crowded civilian beach often frequented by workers as well as sunbathers and swimmers.
  • It is not clear from the investigation how the military failed to recognize that the victims were clearly children."

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