Reply #5: They probably had good reason to shoot them

[Cannafield]

This doesn't prove that they were innocent though. The source doesn't say their involvement, however, speaking personally to many soldiers about the things they've seen happen in Gaza, I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to hear they knew what was going on and were directly involved. 

I remember my friend was telling me a story about his friend who's in golani(an elite urban combat unit in the IDF). He was saying that when he went into Gaza during Operation Cast Lead in 2008, they were facing Hamas forces at few hundred meter distances. He said that the way the area was, they needed to get through this street which Hamas was blockading. I think they had rocket pads in a building down the street which there was no other way to get to. And while pursuing Hamas, there just so happened to be an orphanage on the street. Hamas then proceeded to evacuate the orphanage and use the children (about 5-6 years old) to be used as human barricades. Basically what they did was line them up in mass in front, stood behind them, and held their guns above their heads to open fire. According to the reports from the soldier(bare in mind this is a friends friends story) the IDF platoon called command telling them the situation saying that they can't open fire because there's children.  But, they absolutely needed to clear the street since it was a situation which endangered the entire platoon. Unfortunately they were ordered to open fire, but the ethical situation was "them or us." Basically they were told to aim high.

It's an unfortunate situation but in times of war sometimes when it's survival you have to do what you have to do. And you cannot reason with Hamas. But, that being said. Seeing as I've had 13 year old Arab kids try to start trouble with me and have had men in their 60's and 70's spit at me in the Muslim quarter, even the Christian quarter, of the old city in jerusalem spit at me for being a Jew(I wear a kippa and tzitzit) I do not outrule the possibility in the least bit of them having assosciation with terrorist activities. I mean, I have friends who have been stabbed by 8 year old Arab kids in Jerusalem just for being Jewish.