Investigating the killings of children in Gaza | BBC News

Key Concepts:

• Alleged IDF shootings of children in Gaza
• Verification of media reports and testimonies
• IDF rules of engagement and accountability
• Potential war crimes and violations of international law
• Civilian harm in complex urban combat

Leanne and Muhammad Al Dawi Case Study:

• The Incident: A video surfaced in December 2023 showing a man and a child lying dead on a street in Gaza City. The man was later identified as Muhammad Al Dawi and the child as his 2-year-old daughter, Leanne.
• Investigation: The investigation involved trolling social media, contacting sources on the ground, verifying media reports, and speaking to human rights researchers and medical professionals.
• Eyewitness Account: Leanne's sister, Shahed, 12, reported that they were fleeing bombing when they encountered a tank on a street junction. They retreated, realizing their father had been shot, and fled, losing contact with Muhammad and Leanne.
• Satellite Imagery: Satellite imagery taken two hours before the shooting showed a tank on the same street, along with other armored vehicles and defensive sandbanks, indicating an IDF fortified position, according to military expert Stuart Ray.
• IDF Response: The IDF stated that soldiers operate against terrorist organizations in complex urban environments and that unintended harm may occur. They confirmed that Leanne's case had been recorded and would be examined by competent authorities.

Data and Statistics:

• 95 reports compiled of children allegedly shot in the head or chest in Gaza.
• Over 2/3 of the children were under 12 years old.
• In 57 cases, the IDF was alleged to have shot the child.
• In two cases, Palestinians were alleged to have shot the children.
• 36 cases with no account of what happened.

IDF Rules of Engagement and Accountability:

• Soldier Testimony: Kay, an IDF soldier who fought in Gaza in early 2024, described incidents where his unit killed unarmed people, including young teenagers.
• Rules of Engagement: Soldiers were instructed to "shoot to kill" anyone seen off the humanitarian road, with a qualification to "try to detain" women or children instead.
• Lack of Accountability: Kay expressed a belief that there was a lack of accountability, particularly in situations where the unit suffered casualties.
• IDF Response: The IDF stated that it remains committed to minimizing harm to civilians as much as possible.

Legal Analysis:

• Yanina Dill's Assessment: Yanina Dill, a professor of international law at Oxford University, reviewed the findings and stated that the available evidence "points so directly towards a very serious violation of law, potentially even a war crime."
• Challenges in Legal Determination: Dill noted the difficulty in reaching definitive legal conclusions from a distance without all the evidence.

Notable Quotes:

• IDF Soldier Kay: "Anyone you see off the humanitarian road, shoot. Shoot to kill. That's what we were told."
• Yanina Dill: "...the available evidence points so directly towards a very serious violation of law potentially even a war crime that's quite rare."

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The investigation into the death of Muhammad and Leanne Al Dawi, along with the broader compilation of cases involving children allegedly shot in Gaza, raises serious concerns about potential violations of international law and the IDF's rules of engagement. The evidence, including eyewitness accounts, satellite imagery, and soldier testimonies, suggests a pattern of civilian harm in complex urban combat situations. While the IDF claims to be committed to minimizing harm to civilians, the lack of accountability and the severity of the alleged violations warrant further investigation and scrutiny. The fact that Leanne and Muhammad's family were unaware of the video's existence for over a year highlights the challenges in documenting and addressing the human cost of the conflict.