Page 10 - ARUBA TODAY

A10 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 16 May 2018

As Gaza death toll rises, Israeli tactics face scrutiny

By JOSEF FEDERMAN in the context of a long-
Associated Press running armed conflict
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s with Hamas, an Islamic mili-
high-tech military is coming tant group that has fought
under scathing internation- three wars with Israel over
al criticism for its use of live the past decade and killed
fire that killed scores of Pal- hundreds of Israelis in sui-
estinian protesters across a cide bombings and other
border — even if the pro- attacks. It says open-fire
testing Gazans were burn- regulations are subject to
ing tires, launching fiery the rules of armed conflict,
kites into Israeli farms and which provide greater lee-
in some cases trying to rip way for the use of lethal
apart a border fence. force. Israel says the pro-
The Israeli army has tests are not peaceful, and
staunchly defended its ac- that Hamas militants are us-
tions. It points to the violent ing the crowds as cover to
history of Gaza’s Hamas rul- carry out attacks.
ers, says there have been Protesters have stormed
bombing and shooting the border fence, set it on
attacks against its forces fire with burning tires and
and fears a mass border ripped apart pieces of
breach. It also says that Israeli firefighters extinguish tractor tires in a farmland set on fire by a kite with attached burning the structure with wire cut-
in the open terrain of the cloth launched from Gaza on the Israeli side of the border, Tuesday, May 15, 2018. ters. They have hurled fire-
Gaza border, with troops Associated Press bombs and stones toward
easily exposed, its military of cross-border violence ternational law “have been ISRAEL’S RESPONSE soldiers and sent flaming
options are limited. since a 2014 war between ignored again and again” Israel says it uses live fire kites over the border to set
But with the death toll rising, Hamas and Israel. and that lethal force should only as a last resort. It says it Israeli agricultural fields on
and hundreds of unarmed The vast majority of the only be a “last resort.” begins with verbal warnings fire. One Israeli soldier has
people among the casual- casualties have been un- “It seems anyone is liable and leaflets dropped from been wounded.
ties, the criticism is mount- armed protesters, accord- to be shot dead or injured: the sky that urge people to The army on Tuesday re-
ing. Here is a closer look at ing to Palestinian officials. women, children, press per- stay away from the border, leased a video that ap-
the debate over Israel’s use ___ sonnel, first responders, by- and then resorts to “non- peared to show protesters
of live fire: ANGRY REACTIONS standers,” he said. lethal” tactics such as tear detonating several explo-
___ Monday’s bloodshed trig- In Israel, six human rights gas to disperse the crowds. sions near the border. It also
WHAT HAS HAPPENED? gered widespread criticism groups have asked the Su- The military says snipers are said its forces had killed a
The border protests are from around the world, with preme Court to declare as permitted to open fire only squad of Hamas gunmen
aimed largely at break- many countries, including unlawful any regulations when all other means have who opened fire at troops.
ing a decade-old block- European allies like Ger- that allow soldiers to open failed. Snipers are sup- Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus,
ade imposed by Israel and many and Belgium, accus- fire at unarmed civilians. posed to aim at protesters’ a military spokesman, said
Egypt against Hamas. The ing Israel of using dispropor- Hassan Jabareen, general legs and can shoot only 14 of those killed Monday
blockade, which Israel says tionate force and calling director of Adalah, one of with approval from a com- were actively involved in
is needed to keep Hamas for independent investiga- those groups, said soldiers mander. carrying out attacks.
from arming, has decimat- tions. are supposed to use lethal Military officials say that Israel’s greatest fear is that
ed Gaza’s economy. The U.N. Security Council force only if their lives are in tear gas is often ineffective Hamas will stage a mass
Since the Hamas-led pro- held a special session that immediate danger. He said in the windy conditions. It breach of the fence and
tests began on March 30, began with a moment of the large number of people says it needs to keep its sol- enter nearby Israeli com-
more than 110 Palestinians silence for the Palestinians shot far from the border or diers far from the crowds, munities to kidnap or kill Is-
have been killed and more who were killed. In Geneva, struck in their upper bodies and that other non-lethal raelis.
than 2,500 wounded by live the U.N. human rights of- has raised additional ques- means, such as rubber- Such concerns are not un-
fire, according to the Pales- fice said Israel has repeat- tions about military policies. coated bullets, are ineffec- founded. In 2006, Hamas-
tinian Health Ministry. edly violated international “They are shooting in an ar- tive from a long distance. linked militants tunneled
On Monday alone, 59 peo- norms by using deadly live bitrary way for two reasons, ___ into Israel and captured a
ple were killed and over fire to repel protesters. to punish and to deter,” he THE HAMAS FACTOR soldier, holding him for five
1,200 wounded — making Office spokesman Rupert said. The Israeli military says the years until he was freed in a
it by far the bloodiest day Colville said rules under in- ___ protests are taking place prisoner swap.q