[Shadow_Group] Fw: Dead Palestinian Girl 'Riddled With Bullets'

[shadowgroup-l at lists.resist.ca]

rense.com

Dead Palestinian Girl 
'Riddled With Bullets' 
By Conal Urquhart in Tel Aviv and agencies in Jerusalem 
The Guardian - UK
10-11-4
 
The Israeli army has begun investigating the death of a 13-year-old
Palestinian girl said to have been shot dead by soldiers then riddled
with bullets by their commander. 
  
On television and in newspapers soldiers claimed that the officer shot
her in the head and emptied a magazine of bullets into her body. 
  
Iman el Hamas was walking to school last week when she strayed near an
Israeli army post in Rafah. Soldiers opened fire and killed her. 
  
The company commander then approached the body and fired two bullets at
her head before switching his gun to automatic, the soldiers alleged.
Doctors found more than 20 bullets in her body. 
  
The soldiers were so disgusted by the slow pace of an army investigation
that they approached the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth to demand the
officer's dismissal. 
  
One told the paper: "The company CO who sprayed the girl with bullets
turned us all into vicious animals and besmirched us all. 
  
"As far as we are concerned, it is either him or us. If he is not
dismissed, we will not agree to serve under him. 
  
"It is a disgrace that he is still in his position. We want him to be
kicked out in a legal fashion." 
  
The soldiers said the officer shot the girl even though he was told by
members of his unit not to. 
  
One said: "We spotted her at a distance of 70 metres. Shots were fired at
her from the positions of the outpost, she ran away and was hit. I
realised she was dead. 
  
"The company CO approached her, shot two bullets into her, walked back
towards the force, turned back to her, switched his weapon to automatic
and emptied his entire magazine into her. 
  
"He pumped her full of holes. We were in shock, we grabbed our heads. We
couldn't believe what he was doing. Our hearts ached for her." 
  
At first the army said the soldiers had suspected that the girl was
carrying a bomb. Later it said the girl was being used by gunmen to lure
them from their post. 
  
Yesterday an army source said an investigation had begun, but it was "too
early to speak of criminal charges". 
  
The girl's family insist that she was going to school and carrying only
her schoolbooks. "We demand the prosecution of Iman's killer, [but] we do
not trust the Israeli judicial system," her elder brother, Ehab, said. 
  
"We know that this area where the outpost was located is off limits, but
no one can control kids all the time. Iman got up and had breakfast with
five of her nine brothers, and took leave of her parents as she does
every day on the way to school. 
  
"Even if someone used the child, and I am certain it did not happen, she
presented no danger to anyone," he said. 
  
* The Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, survived two no-confidence
votes in parliament yesterday after he vowed to continue with his plan to
withdraw settlers and troops from some occupied territory. 
  
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1325307,00.html<http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1325307,00.html>

 
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