PM Netanyahu apologized for the unfortunate mistake made by the IAF in attacking an encampment of civilians in Rafah. Although a precision guided missile was used in the attack that killed two major terrorists, the subsequent fire killed 45 (presumably including the terrorists). This was not intentional, but was an example of the collateral damage to civilians that occurs in war. Israel neither wanted nor started this war, that was initiated by the surprise brutal massacre by Hamas of 1,300 Israeli civilians that occurred on Oct 7, 2023.
Here are some other examples: 1. During the NATO bombing campaign against Serbia, the Grdelica train bombing occurred on 12 April, 1999, when missiles fired by a USAF fighter bomber hit a passenger train while it was passing across a railway bridge over the Grdelica gorge, south of Belgrade, Serbia. Estimates of the death toll run as high as 60.
2. In May, 1999, the Lužane bus bombing occurred when missiles fired from an RAF helicopter targeted a bridge in Kosovo, north of Pristrina, but hit a bus killing 46 civilians. Among the victims were 14 children. NATO did not always meet its legal obligation in selection of targets of attack.
3. The Haska Meyna wedding party airstrike was an attack by US forces on 6 July, 2008, in which 47 Afghans were killed. The targeted group was escorting a bride to a wedding ceremony in the groom’s village in Nangahar Province, Afghanistan. The US government denied that civilians were killed in the incident, but the Afghan government determined that 47 civilians, including the bride, had been killed.
No military is immune from such unfortunate incidents, so it is better not to be “holier than thou.” There is a tendency to apply a higher double standard to Israel that others do not meet. that is clearly based on anti-Semitism. The IDF actively attempts to avoid such civilian casualties. Note that this encampment was NOT an IDF declared safe zone, as claimed by Hamas. The IDF is forbidden to act in such self-declared safe zones.
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