School rocket that killed 15 ‘may be from Hamas’
Israel’s deputy foreign minister has denied knowing who was responsible for the shelling of a UN-run school in Gaza, claiming the damage could have been caused by a Hamas rocket.
Tzachi Hanegbi said Israel regretted all deaths in the escalating conflict, but continued to lay the blame at the door of Hamas.
A UN school in Gaza crowded with hundreds of Palestinians seeking refuge from fierce fighting came under fire yesterday, killing at least 15 civilians.
Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Mr Hanegbi said: “We have the knowledge about 2,000 rockets shot at us, most of them from the midst of Palestinian civilian concentrations.
“Whilst we have to take precautions to defend ourselves, sometimes there are mistakes.
“I don’t know who has caused this mistake – some say it is an Israeli mistake, maybe it was a Palestinian mistake, because, you know, every six rockets Hamas is shooting at us falls in Gaza, unfortunately for them.
“I don’t have any knowledge about the specific bomb that fell. We are very sorry for each and everyone’s life paying the price for this tragedy.”
It was put to Mr Hanegbi that Israel’s actions were not making the country more secure, but he insisted the military action had left Hamas more isolated than ever before.
He said: “We are losing our boys in this crazy, stupid, unjustified confrontation. Israel left the Gaza strip, completely, in 2005. Since then there has been no Israeli presence – not even one.
“We took 10,000 Israelis that had lived there for decades, we took them out because we wanted them to have their freedom and independence.
“What was the result? Hamas just took over, killed the people of the Palestinian Authority… shot them in the knees, threw them from the 17th floor of the houses of Gaza and made it into an Iranian kingdom of terrorism.
“Since then, for so many years, they are shooting at us without any need, without any provocation.
“Israel showed great restraint, we begged them not to shoot, and we did not have any other option. Israeli leaders must protect the people.”
Mr Hanegbi said Israel had a series of demands which could be negotiated like “normal, sane” countries do to resolve conflicts.
“But the firing must stop,” he insisted.
“If they stop firing rockets at Israeli civilians, we will immediately put an end to our retaliation.”
Yesterday, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond called for a swift ceasefire between Israeland Hamas as he joined international diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in Gaza amid growing concern at the rising civilian death toll.
At a joint news conference in Jerusalem with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Hammond put the blame for the latest outbreak of fighting firmly on Hamas while reiterating Britain’s support for Israel’s right to defend itself.
He said: “Britain has also been very clear that Israel has the right to defend itself and its citizens, but we are gravely concerned by the ongoing heavy level of civilian casualties. We want to see a ceasefire quickly agreed.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
