|
Palestinian family sues Israel over Gaza raid
(AKI) - A Palestinian family has filed a lawsuit seeking more than 200 million dollars in damages from outgoing Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert and other senior officials over Israel's recent offensive in the Gaza Strip. The al-Samouni family filed the lawsuit on behalf of 79 family members - 29 of whom were killed and 45 wounded during Israel's military action - in a court in the town of Nazareth.The family wants 851 million Israeli Shekels (200 million dollars) from the Israeli government citing "criminal negligence." The lawsuit is seeking the compensation from outgoing Olmert, defense forces chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi and current defence minister Ehud Barak for damages caused during Israel's three-week offensive against Gaza which ended in January. However, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth said the courts have previously rejected similar lawsuits filed by Palestinians demanding compensation for injuries caused by military operations. "They were sitting at home, in a place meant to provide them with quiet, peace and rest -- far from the firing. There is no disagreement over the fact that this was criminal negligence on the part of the military force, which murdered and injured innocent people who were simply present at their home," said attorney Mohammed Foukara quoted by Yedioth Ahronoth. Last week a similar claim was made by a family from the Jabaliya refugee camp, after 11 children were killed and five others injured. The family is claiming 43 million dollars in compensation. The al-Samouni family lived in the Zaytoun suburb, located in east Gaza. According to the lawsuit, the family's three-storey building was burnt down by a tank shell allegedly fired by IDF forces. Seven family members were killed. The following day 22 other family members were killed as they were shelled while they gathered in shelter. The three-week Israeli military offensive on the Hamas-ruled coastal territory began on 27 December and ended on 18 January. Palestinian medical officials said more than 1,330 Palestinians were killed and more than 5,400 others were injured. Some estimates said that over one-third of those killed in the military offensive were women and children. The military offensive caused widespread damage and destruction in the coastal strip and humanitarian organisations have been working to restore the provision of food and other aid in Gaza. Thirteen Israelis - including ten soldiers - died during the Israeli military operation. Posted by: Fred 2009-03-11 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=264679 |