AL-ZEITOUN, Gaza Strip — Since the start of Operation Protective Edge, Israeli warplanes have not hesitated to target civilian houses under the pretext that “wanted” persons were allegedly present. Yet, the resulting death toll bears witness to the violation of international law, first, by striking military targets in civilian locations, and second, by hitting targets such as homes, where combatant status does not apply.
A few minutes is the window of opportunity that Israel gives for civilians to evacuate the homes of wanted individuals before it destroys them, turning them into rubble and memories of war, and risks annihilating anyone left inside them. Such attacks include the one on the Qaware family's home, which the Israeli military says was also the home of an Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades commander, who was present during the July 11 bombing. The Ghannam family did not receive a warning on July 11 before being bombed. To these one can add the Abu Kwik, al-Astal, Hamad, Hajj, and al-Munasira as families whose homes were bombed by Israel.
