Amnesty International: us-made munitions killed 43 civilians in IDF attacks
In a new report, Amnesty International has accused the Israeli army of committing war crimes in Gaza, after revealing that it used US-made munitions in air attacks on civilian homes. The organization said that the attacks last October killed 43 civilians, including 19 children and 14 women.
According to the investigation, the IDF used Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), which are laser-or satellite-guided bombs, weighing 500 or 1,000 pounds, and carrying high-explosive explosive warheads. The organization said that these munitions were manufactured and supplied by the United States, and they are considered heavy and non-distinctive weapons, not suitable for use in populated areas.
The organization noted that the attacks targeted two houses in the Gaza Valley, as the Israeli army ordered residents of northern Gaza to evacuate the day before the attacks. The organization said that there was no evidence of legitimate military targets in the two houses, and that the Israeli army did not provide any convincing explanation for the attacks. The organization said the attacks violate international humanitarian law and constitute war crimes.
The organization called on the US administration to stop exporting weapons to Israel and put pressure on it to comply with international law. "The fact that the Israeli military has used American-made munitions in unlawful attacks with deadly consequences for civilians should serve as an urgent wake-up call for the Biden administration," said Annise Callamard, secretary general of Amnesty International. American-made weapons have facilitated mass killings of extended families,"he said.
"Two families were killed in these strikes, which is further proof that the IDF is responsible for the unlawful killing and wounding of civilians in its bombardment of Gaza. The international community must act decisively to stop these violations and ensure accountability and justice for the victims,"he said.
