Gaza: Apparent War Crimes During May Fighting

On July 27, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report on alleged Israeli war crimes during the recent conflict in Gaza, which occurred between 10 and 21 May, killing 260 and injuring 1,948. Over half the dead (129) were civilians, including 66 children. And children accounted for almost a third (610) of the injured.

The report specifically focuses on three Israeli airstrikes that killed 62 Palestinian civilians. On May 10 at around 6pm, an attack on Beit Hanoun killed 8 Gazans, including 6 children; on May 15 at 1:40pm, an attack on al-Shati refugee camp destroyed a three-storey building, killing 10 residents. And on May 16, just before 1am, a series of attacks over a four-minute period on the centre of Gaza City repeatedly targeted al-Wahda Street, killing 44 civilians, including 18 children.

Gerry Simpson, associate crisis and conflict director at HRW, said: “Israeli forces carried out attacks in Gaza in May that devastated entire families without any apparent military target nearby.”

The report draws on interviews with eyewitnesses of Israeli attacks, relatives of civilians killed and residents of targeted areas. HRW staff based in the Strip also visited four strike sites, inspected the remnants of munitions, and analyzed satellite imagery, video footage and photographs taken after the attacks. 

On July 26, senior HRW researchers were denied permits by the Israeli authorities, preventing them from passing through the Erez crossing and undertaking further investigations. With the exception of a single visit in 2016, HRW has repeatedly been prevented from entering the Strip since 2008.