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The November 2006 Beit Hanoun incident occured on November 8 2006 when the Israel Defense Forces shelled the Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun, killing at least 19 Palestinians and wounding more than 40. Four women and nine children were among those killed or wounded It occured right after the end of the Israeli Operation Autumn Clouds in the same town.
Template:Arab-Israeli conflict 2006
The incident
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, a barrage of tank shells hit civilian homes and that eight children and seven women were among the dead, and that at least 40 people were wounded, all civilians. They added that 18 of the victims were members of the Athamna family and that those killed were civilians. According to witnesses, the victims were sleeping when the 15-minute barrage of shells first hit. Four hospitals are treating the wounded across Gaza.
According to the Israeli Defense Forces, they fired 12 artillery shells in area used by Qassam rockets and Grad launchers to fire on Ashkelon. Some of the shells diverted 1 km off its course and hit a house in the outskirts of Beit Hanoun. The IDF ordered an investigation into the incident to be led by Major General Meir Kalifi. The investigation found that the shells diverted from their course due to a radar malfunction, which led to wrong aiming. IDF and PM Olmert expressed sorrow over the deaths of the civilians but stressed that the responsibility lies on the terrorists which used those civilians as a human shield.
Reactions
Palestinians: The Palestinian prime minister, Hamas's Ismail Haniya, denounced the Israeli attack as an "awful massacre" and said talks on forming more moderate Palestinian unity government would be suspended. Palestinian moderate president, Mahmoud Abbas said "...ugly massacre committed by the occupation against our children, our women and elderly...you (the Israelis) do not want peace at all..."A local Hamas leader has called for the group to resume suicide bombings inside Israel, a policy suspended two years ago by the main militant faction.
Israel: Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz ordered the halt in artillery attacks and called for an urgent inquiry into the incident. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed regret over the killings and offered humanitarian assistance to the wounded.
Other: The EU called the massacre "a profoundly shocking event". Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa said "Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories have gone too far."
References
- Children among 19 killed by Israeli tank fire, The Guardian
- 19 Palestinians die in IDF shelling in northern Gaza, Haaretz, 8/11/2006
- Peretz to reevaluate IDF policy of shelling northern Gaza Strip, Haaretz, 10/11/2006
- IDF statement
- Children among 19 killed by Israeli tank fire, The Guardian
- Israeli fire kills scores in Gaza; Palestinians, world slam attack, AFP
- Israeli fire kills scores in Gaza; Palestinians, world slam attack, AFP