Israel using flechette shells in Gaza

[Ichingcarpenter]

The Israeli military is using flechette shells, which spray out thousands of tiny and potentially lethal metal darts, in its military operation in Gaza.

Six flechette shells were fired towards the village of Khuzaa, east of Khan Younis, on 17 July, according to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. Nahla Khalil Najjar, 37, suffered injuries to her chest, it said. PCHR provided a picture of flechettes taken by a fieldworker last week.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) did not deny using the shells in the conflict. "As a rule, the IDF only employs weapons that have been determined lawful under international law, and in a manner which fully conforms with the laws of armed conflict," a spokesperson said in response to a request for specific comment on the deployment of flechettes.

B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights organisation, describes a flechette shell as "an anti-personnel weapon that is generally fired from a tank. The shell explodes in the air and releases thousands of metal darts 37.5mm in length, which disperse in a conical arch 300 metres long and about 90 metres wide".

The munitions are not prohibited under international humanitarian law, but according to B'Tselem, "other rules of humanitarian law render their use in the Gaza Strip illegal. One of the most fundamental principles is the obligation to distinguish between those who are involved and those who are not involved in the fighting, and to avoid to the extent possible injury to those who are not involved. Deriving from this principle is the prohibition of the use of an imprecise weapon which is likely to result in civilian injuries."


http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/20/israel-using-flechette-shells-in-gaza

[Electric Monk]

1. But, they said they were only targeted, surgical strikes, designed to minimize civilian casualties?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Geneva_Convention#Collective_punishments

Somebody is lying.

[jmowreader]

13. As the man said, you don't perform surgery with bombs

If anyone wants to know why every Arab nation's constitution has called for the destruction of Israel...

[geek tragedy]

2. Israel commits more humane war crimes

than any other nation. Israel has every right to turn Arab civilians into voodoo dolls, because Israel.

[Fred Sanders]

6. But they are the most compassionate war businessmen in the history of Western civilizations did you

not get the message?

[peacebird]

3. Firing these in civilian areas should clearly be illegal as there is no way to "target"

It is indiscriminate, hitting anyone - civilian and soldier or combatant. Israels claims it tries not to harm civilians and 'regrets' when they are killed but is using THIS?

I believe Israel has gone beyond the pale. Their actions are unforgivable.

[Fred Sanders]

5. The world is shocked by the carnage and the propaganda used to cover it, that much is clear.

[Ichingcarpenter]

7. Is this the "pinpoint operation"?

‘It’s a hell of a pinpoint operation’ — John Kerry

[Fred Sanders]

4. I guess the human shields were proving too effective, killing children on a beach was too hard.

[libodem]

8. God's chosen

So willing to .let go and let God. The just need a few fletchetts to prove 'He' Is on their side.

They can keep their old Testament male God. Should have called him Thor or Zeus instead of that name that can't be written or spoken.

[4now]

9. Completely disgusting

but they are doing it with our blessing.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

10. And our tax dollars. nt

[BillZBubb]

11. The Israeli propagandists will no doubt claim

anyone killed or maimed by these weapons deserved it. After all, Israel ordered them to leave.

In a just world, Netanyahu would have an international warrant issued on him for war crimes.

[TRoN33]

12. Just asked the veteran about this and he said...

It's considered as semi cluster bomb without exploding ordinances, he said this one should be illegal.

[hrmjustin]

14. War crime!

[cantbeserious]

15. That My Tax Dollars Support This Activity Sickens Me - It Must End

eom

[defacto7]

16. Uncivilized

It's all anti-humanity. Slaughter of the innocent is uncivilized no matter what ideology demands it.

[johnnyreb]

17. Loathesome.

[geomon666]

18. That is beyond sick.

Is there any fucking doubt left they are targeting anyone/everyone indiscriminately?

[Renew Deal]

19. Are those different than cluster bombs?

And are they legal? Why would they be used in an urban/civilian environment?

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

20. How can any weapon...

that has the potential to maim or kill anyone, be used in the same sentence as the word humanitarian?

[Orrex]

21. Well, as long as they're not forbidden, I guess Israel keeps the moral high ground after all.

I was worried that their ongoing murder of hunrdeds of civilians might compromise Israel's integrity. Thank goodness that they're killing those civilians with legally lethal weapons. I'd hate to think that they're murdering hundreds of civilians illegally.

[malaise]

22. Are they made in Israel or

the great USA?