Monday, December 24, 2012

Human Rights Watch and defending Israel

"Human Rights Watch says Gaza militants violated laws of war by launching hundreds of rockets at Israeli civilians during last month's fighting. The Israeli military says 1,500 rockets were fired at Israel during the eight-day offensive against Gaza militants, including the first rockets from Gaza to strike the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem areas. The rocket attacks killed three Israeli civilians and wounded dozens. HRW's Sarah Leah Whitson said in the group's report on Monday that "Palestinian armed groups made clear in their statements that harming civilians was their aim.""  I don't know which statements Sarah is referring to, but is she implying that threats are more deadly than actual harming of civilians, or does she mean that Israel should be forgiven for killing and injuring Arab civilians because it did not make clear statements that harming civilians was their aim?  (thanks Basim)