Israeli soldiers killed a wanted terrorist near Ramallah early Thursday, the same day Amnesty International, reported here, grilled “trigger-happy” Israel for supposed “war crimes” by allegedly using “excessive force” in killing 45 Palestinian Authority Arabs last year.
Dear Amnesty: Don’t forget February 27, 2014, in Berzeit, near Ramallah.
The suspect was called a “man” by the Bethlehem-based Ma’an News Agency which reported he was “found dead” in a house after a stand-off with Israeli soldiers who allegedly killed him with an artillery shell. Israeli media said he died when a wall collapsed on him as an IDF bulldozer destroyed part of the house to flush out the suspect.
He was identified as Muatazz Washaha, 24, and the IDF said he was wanted for suspected terrorist activity.
Amnesty, please take note how the trigger-happy soldiers committed another “war crime.” Even Ma’an admitted that there was a “stand-off” in the house. The soldiers called for him to surrender, but instead he barricaded himself inside the building.
Soldiers had arrested two others suspects and waited and waited for Washaha to come out of the house, during which time approximately 150 of his peaceful neighbors rioted and threw rocks and whatever else they could get their hands on to throw at soldiers.
Washaha was a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which has been responsible or some of the most monstrous terrorist attacks on Israelis.
The International Criminal Court defines war crimes as including “serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international armed conflict and in conflicts ‘not of an international character’ listed in the Rome Statute, when they are committed as part of a plan or policy or on a large scale. These prohibited acts include: murder; mutilation, cruel treatment and torture; taking of hostages; intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population; intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes, historical monuments or hospitals; and conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups or using them to participate actively in hostilities.”
Armed with that definition, the Palestinian Authority is responsible for several thousand war crimes; so, please, Amnesty International, who did you say commits war crimes?