WAR CRIME? Nearly 50% of bombs dropped by Israel on Gaza were unguided, "area effect" weapons
By richardbrown // 2023-12-18
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Nearly 50 percent of the air-to-ground munitions used by Israel in the Gaza Strip since early October had been identified as "dumb bombs" or unguided munitions, whose deployment in densely populated civilian areas potentially constitutes a war crime. The figure was contained in a recent CNN report based on an initial U.S. intelligence assessment released on Dec. 13. This report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence found that anywhere between 40 to 45 percent of the munitions dropped on Gaza by Israel were unguided. (Related: Gaza media office: Israel has dropped 40,000 tons of bombs since October 7, dwarfing the size of the Hiroshima explosion.) This revelation challenges the Israeli government's assertion that its military actions in Gaza were only meant to target Hamas and not the broader Palestinian population. Adil Haque, a professor at Rutgers Law School, emphasized that the use of imprecise weapons in populated areas may violate international humanitarian law, potentially qualifying as an indiscriminate attack or a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, of which Israel is a former signatory. Details of the U.S. intelligence assessment surfaced after President Joe Biden acknowledged that Israel had engaged in "indiscriminate bombing" in Gaza. Subsequently, Biden administration officials clarified that the president's remarks did not signal a shift in U.S. policy away from unconditional support for Israel. Former United Nations war crimes investigator Marc Garlasco described the intelligence assessment as "shocking," contending that the significant percentage of unguided bombs undermines Israel's claim of minimizing civilian harm. The U.S. has supplied Israel with both unguided bombs and GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). An Amnesty International investigation last week revealed that Israel used American-made JDAMs in October to bomb homes in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of 43 individuals from two families. During the initial six weeks of Israel's assault on Gaza, over 22,000 U.S.-supplied bombs were dropped. Reuters added that while U.S. officials urged Israel to protect civilians in the strip—a plea that has gone unanswered—Israel continued its extensive airstrikes, causing further casualties, including the deaths of families in their homes in places like Rafah. Gaza health authorities reported 26 fatalities in one devastating airstrike on the adjacent homes of the Abu Dhbaa and Ashour families.

Pentagon supplied Israel with 15,000 bombs

The Pentagon contributed significantly to the intensity of the campaign, supplying approximately 15,000 bombs, including formidable 2,000-pound bunker busters, along with a staggering 50,000 155mm artillery shells during the same period. Tragically, the toll of this onslaught was profound, resulting in the loss of around 20,000 Palestinian lives, with more than half comprising women and children. Despite Washington's purported requests for Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law and take precautions to protect civilians, the flow of weapons to Israel persists without impediment. The Israeli Ministry of Defense's report highlights the continuous influx of support, indicating that at least 200 cargo flights have delivered guns, ammunition, and armored vehicles to Israel from friendly nations since October 7. Notably, the White House's recent sale of 14,000 tank shells to Israel without congressional approval has raised concerns. Furthermore, the U.S. has granted Israel access to white phosphorus weapons, which are globally prohibited due to their severe risks, and witnessed deployment in both Gaza and Lebanon. During a speech at the Reagan National Defense Forum in Simi Valley, California, Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin issued a warning, suggesting that Israel could face strategic defeat if the protection of Palestinian civilians is not prioritized. Recent incidents, such as the October 16th occurrence of white phosphorous falling on the southern Lebanese village of Al-Dhahira, as authenticated by Amnesty International, shed light on the alarming consequences. Residents endured hours of shelling with white phosphorous munitions, coining the night as the "black night." The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project reports that Israel has employed white phosphorous in southern Lebanon over 60 times since the conflict's onset in October. Residents of Al-Dhahira revealed the dangerous aftermath, emphasizing that any remnants of the banned weapon would ignite upon contact. Watch this short clip of Israel dropping white phosphorous bombs on the Jabalia refugee camp in North Gaza. Video from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth on Brighteon.com.

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