.png)
The laws of war were violated on both sides of the fighting in November 2012 between militants in Gaza and Israel, according to the NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW).
According to HRW and the Israel Defense Force, about 1,500 rockets were fired at Israel from November 14 through 21.
At least 800 of those actually hit Israel, including 60 that hit populated areas. The others were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.
Among the attacks included the first from Gaza to strike the Tel Aviv and Jerusalem areas. A total of three Israeli civilians were killed, at least 38 were wounded, and civilian property was destroyed.
“Palestinian armed groups made clear in their statements that harming civilians was their aim,” stated Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch in a press release. “There is simply no legal justification for launching rockets at populated areas.”
In turn, Israeli attacks on Palestinian media workers were deemed illegal under the laws of war. Four attacks on media workers in Gaza killed two cameramen and wounded at least 10 others. No specific information about the media workers’ ties to militant or terrorist groups was provided.
