Bereaved families: This is day of shame

In response to Gaza incident, bereaved families forum and leftist organizations go out to protest government's policies. Uri Avneri: I don't believe action is accidental

Moran Rada|Published: 11.08.06 , 22:24

The incident in Beit Hanoun Wednesday morning, in which 18 Palestinians were killed from an IDF shelling drew many reactions, especially from left wing organizations who protested in front of the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv during the afternoon hours.

Peace activist Uri Avneri said during the protest that whoever decided to conduct this strike actually decided to murder whole families. "I don't believe this action is completely accidental," he said. According to him, "the heads of the military are in a constant state of frustration after losing the war in Lebanon and they are bent on venting their anger on someone. This is the reason for today's cruel action in Beit Hanoun."

Bereaved families protest (Photo: Yaron Brenner)

The protesters called on the government to immediately stop the operation in Gaza and to return to negotiations with the Palestinians. They carried banners saying "Start talking – stop killing," and "Peretz – in Sderot and Beit Hanoun children need to live."

"What happened in Gaza is a predetermined disaster. This is what happens when you decide to rain down shells on the most densely populated place in the world," said Knesset Member Dov Khenin (Hadash) whop participated in the demonstration. MK Avshalom Vilan (Meretz), who also participated, said that "there is a black flag flying over the incident. From the first day of the operation I warned using artillery because there always will be a stray shell."

Earlier in the day, once the news was in about the incident, about 10 demonstrators from the Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families Forum arrived in front of the Kirya with signs asking "How much more children need to die?" and "The leadership is leading us to devastation."

Boaz Kitain, the Israeli head of the forum explains that "every time people get killed, especially children and innocent civilians, it is appalling and reminds us of the shock as bereaved families, and it is very heavy on us. It doesn’t matter if Israelis or Palestinians are killed, what matters is that people are killed needlessly."