The Untold Story of the Shejaiya Massacre in Gaza: A Former Israel Soldier Speaks Out

[Jefferson23]

9/12/2014

On July 20, at least 90 Palestinians and 13 Israeli soldiers were killed in the Gaza City neighborhood of Shejaiya. Days later, former Israeli soldier Eran Efrati was arrested by Israel after he posted details about the massacre based on interviews he conducted with Israeli soldiers who were there. Today he speaks out about what he learned and talks about the killing of 23-year-old Salem Khaleel Shamaly. Activists with the International Solidarity Movement posted a video on YouTube showing the fatal shooting of an unarmed Palestinian civilian during the massacre. Family members later stumbled onto the video and identified the man as Shamaly. In the video, Shamaly is seen lying on the ground, apparently wounded by an unseen sniper. As Shamaly tries to get to his feet, two more shots ring out, and he stops moving. Efrati interviewed three of the Israeli soldiers who witnessed the killing of Salem Khaleel Shamaly. His sources within the Israeli Defense Forces reportedly informed him soldiers were deliberately targeting civilians as "punishment" and "retribution" for the deaths of fellow soldiers in their units. Efrati is a former Israeli combat soldier turned anti-occupation activist and investigative researcher.

Transcript and video:



JUAN GONZÁLEZ: The Israeli military says it has opened criminal probes into two of its most publicized killings of Palestinian civilians during the summer’s assault on Gaza. Investigators will examine the killing of four Palestinian children on a Gaza beach and a later attack that killed 14 people in a U.N. school, one of several that hit U.N. shelters. Over 2,100 Palestinians, more than 75 percent civilians, were killed in the Israeli assault. Critics say Israel is seeking to deflect international scrutiny, including a United Nations Human Rights Council probe and potential cases before the International Criminal Court. However, the Israeli army has not announced plans to investigate another notorious episode that occurred during its recent assault on Gaza. That’s the Shejaiya massacre in July, when nearly 90 Gazans and 13 Israeli soldiers were killed.

AMY GOODMAN: Shejaiya is one of Gaza’s poorest and most crowded neighborhoods. Activists with the International Solidarity Movement posted a video on YouTube showing the fatal shooting of an unarmed Palestinian civilian during the massacre. Family members later stumbled onto the video and identified the man as 23-year-old Salem Khaleel Shamaly. In the video, we see Shamaly lying on the ground, apparently wounded by an unseen sniper. As Shamaly tries to get to his feet, two more shots ring out. He stops moving.

in full: http://www.democracynow.org/2014/9/12/the_untold_story_of_the_shejaiya

[oberliner]

1. People call him the Edward Snowden of Israel

Been doing this sort of thing since 2008-9.

[azurnoir]

3. lol a Rightwing blogger who's word we're supoposed to be taking

here at DU?

[DanTex]

5. By some right-wing blogger? Really? Is it the one who found Obama's Kenyan birth certificate?

The 927 article links to a NYT story about the same video. Now you're accusing the NYT of pushing a fake video also?

Oh, and I have another question...what planet do you live on?

[azurnoir]

4. more from Eran Efrati on IDF

[Jefferson23]

7. I think you should consider posting this up as a thread on its own. His story is worth listening to

for many reasons. His family history is interesting, going back numerous generations and
he is without question, sincere...think about what he is sharing...powerful.

[azurnoir]

8. Thanks but this is older than what I/P rules allow

I think it must be something published within the last 3 weeks, and it may already have been in V&M when such stuff was being allowed there

[Jefferson23]

9. I don't know if they still hold to that..was part of DU2. It is excellent, thanks for the addition.

[azurnoir]

10. you're welcome

[Jefferson23]

6. Hi app, I understand you are certain the video has been discredited but how about wait

until the human rights groups go through everything. They're no where near done yet.