Former Israeli Defense Minister, Benjamin Ben Eliezer, Sued in Spain With Crimes Against Humanity for Dropping One-Ton Bomb on Palestinian Civilians in 2002

Humanitarian case launched against former Israeli Defense Minister in Spain

Date: 28 / 06 / 2008 Time: 10:24
Bethlehem – Ma'an –

Spanish National Courts heard their first International and Humanitarian Law suit against Israel on Tuesday.

The suit has been launched by six survivors of a 2002 Israeli bomb attack and the relatives of attack's casualties.

According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR), the thirty five-page suit is being filed against Israeli Defense Minister (2001-2001) Benjamin Ben Eliezer, and six individuals who were acting under his orders at the time. Those charged were involved in a bomb attack launched on the Gaza neighborhood of Al Daraj. According to the suit, the events of the attack of 22 July 2002 were disproportionate with its goal.

PCHR reports that the actual target of the one-ton bomb was Salah Shehadeh, a suspected Hamas commander. The bomb, however, not only destroyed Shehadeh's home, but several others surrounding it. Fifteen people were killed and one hundred and fifty sustained injuries of various degrees.

The victims say they were told by an Israeli court that the attack was proportionate.

Lawyers Antonio Segura, Gonzalo Boye, Raul Maillo, and Juan Moreno, will try the case. They are known best for their involvement in the case against Augusto Pinochet for Crimes Against Humanity in Great Britain, where the group represented the victims of torture from Guatemala.

PCHR has been working with the four Lawyers for more than two years, and saw the suit presented to the Audiencia Nacional (National Courts) on 24 June.

The suit asks that there be justice and moral compensation given to the victims, and that those responsible for the attack be held accountable.

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