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The United Nations has determined that Israel’s military warned civilians before most attacks on the Gaza Strip.
A UN report asserted that Israel’s military notified families to evacuate their homes in the Gaza Strip. The report, dated July 9, said civilian casualties took place after Israeli officers telephoned targeted buildings.
“At least 35 residential buildings were reportedly targeted and destroyed, resulting in the majority of the civilian casualties recorded so far, including an attack on 8 July in Khan Yunis that killed seven civilians, including three children, and injured another 25,” the report, titled “Occupied Palestinian Territory: Hostilities in Gaza and Israel Situation Report,” said. “In most cases, prior to the attacks, residents have been warned to leave, either via phone calls by the Israel military or by the firing of warning missiles.”
The report disputed the Palestinian Authority and Western human rights groups, which asserted that Israel was targeting civilians in the current mini-war with the Gaza Strip. The report said some 150 homes were destroyed in Israeli air strikes.
The PA has urged Gazans to ignore Israeli military warnings of impending attacks. In a statement on July 9, the PA Interior Ministry called on “all our people not to deal or pay attention to the psychological warfare carried out by the occupation.” For its part, Hamas has acknowledged the use of civilians as human shields.
The UN said Hamas and its Palestinian militia allies have been firing hundreds of rockets into Israel. The report said most of the rockets fell into open areas.
“Indiscriminate rocket firing by armed groups from Gaza has targeted main Israeli population centers, but has resulted in no casualties, so far,” the report said.
