This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21749527
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
UN disputes Gaza strike on BBC man's house | UN disputes Gaza strike on BBC man's house |
(about 17 hours later) | |
By Jon Donnison BBC News, West Bank | By Jon Donnison BBC News, West Bank |
The son of a BBC journalist and two relatives killed in November's conflict in Gaza may have been hit by a misfired Palestinian rocket, a UN agency says. | |
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said its conclusions were based on a visit to the site a month after the attack. | The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said its conclusions were based on a visit to the site a month after the attack. |
At the time, human rights groups blamed the deaths on an Israeli air strike. | At the time, human rights groups blamed the deaths on an Israeli air strike. |
The Israeli military says it never denied carrying out the strike because it was not clear what had happened. | The Israeli military says it never denied carrying out the strike because it was not clear what had happened. |
The UN says 33 other Palestinian children died in Israeli attacks during the conflict. | The UN says 33 other Palestinian children died in Israeli attacks during the conflict. |
'Rubbish' | 'Rubbish' |
A photo of BBC video editor Jehad Mashhrawi cradling the corpse of his baby son Omar became one of the iconic images of November's short war. | A photo of BBC video editor Jehad Mashhrawi cradling the corpse of his baby son Omar became one of the iconic images of November's short war. |
Omar was killed, along with an aunt and an uncle, after a missile hit the family home in Gaza City. | Omar was killed, along with an aunt and an uncle, after a missile hit the family home in Gaza City. |
It happened only an hour after Israel launched its operation with the killing of Hamas's military commander. | It happened only an hour after Israel launched its operation with the killing of Hamas's military commander. |
The family, and human rights groups, said that the house was hit in an Israeli attack. | The family, and human rights groups, said that the house was hit in an Israeli attack. |
The Israeli military made no comment at the time of the incident but never denied carrying out the strike. | The Israeli military made no comment at the time of the incident but never denied carrying out the strike. |
Privately, military officials briefed journalists that they had been targeting a militant who was in the building. | Privately, military officials briefed journalists that they had been targeting a militant who was in the building. |
Now, though, the United Nations says the house may have been hit by a Palestinian rocket that fell short. | Now, though, the United Nations says the house may have been hit by a Palestinian rocket that fell short. |
This is despite the fact that the Israeli military had reported no rockets being fired out of Gaza so soon after the start of the conflict. | This is despite the fact that the Israeli military had reported no rockets being fired out of Gaza so soon after the start of the conflict. |
UN officials visited the house four weeks after the strike. | UN officials visited the house four weeks after the strike. |
They said they did not carry out a forensic investigation, but said their team did not think the damage was consistent with an Israeli air strike. | They said they did not carry out a forensic investigation, but said their team did not think the damage was consistent with an Israeli air strike. |
However, the UN said it could not "unequivocally conclude" it was a misfired Palestinian rocket. | However, the UN said it could not "unequivocally conclude" it was a misfired Palestinian rocket. |
A UN official said it was also possible the house was hit by a secondary explosion after an Israeli air strike on Palestinian weapons stores. | A UN official said it was also possible the house was hit by a secondary explosion after an Israeli air strike on Palestinian weapons stores. |
Jehad Mashhrawi dismissed the UN findings as "rubbish". | Jehad Mashhrawi dismissed the UN findings as "rubbish". |
He said nobody from the United Nations had spoken to him, and said Palestinian militant groups would usually apologise to the family if they had been responsible. | He said nobody from the United Nations had spoken to him, and said Palestinian militant groups would usually apologise to the family if they had been responsible. |
An Israeli military spokesman said he could not comment on the accuracy of the UN's findings but said it would not be the first time a Palestinian rocket had misfired. | An Israeli military spokesman said he could not comment on the accuracy of the UN's findings but said it would not be the first time a Palestinian rocket had misfired. |
He said that, in the intense first hours of the conflict, it was not always clear what was happening. | He said that, in the intense first hours of the conflict, it was not always clear what was happening. |
The UN report concluded that at least 169 Palestinians were killed by Israeli attacks during the offensive. | The UN report concluded that at least 169 Palestinians were killed by Israeli attacks during the offensive. |
It said more than 100 were civilians, including 33 children and 13 women. The report said six Israelis were killed by Palestinians attacks, including four civilians. | It said more than 100 were civilians, including 33 children and 13 women. The report said six Israelis were killed by Palestinians attacks, including four civilians. |
Previous version
1
Next version