Posted on 04/11/2006 7:36:17 AM PDT by Alouette
British jury rules peace activist Ton Hurndall unlawfully, deliberately killed in Gaza Strip by IDF sergeant; coroner calls on British attorney general to seek war crime charges against five Israeli officers who issued orders allowing soldier to shoot
An inquest jury in London ruled Monday that British peace activist Tom Hurndall had been unlawfully killed and deliberately shot on April 2003 by IDF Sergeant Taysir Hayb "with the intention of killing him," under the command of five other officers.
The British attorney general was called on to seek war crimes charges against the five Israeli officers.
Sergeant Hayb was already convicted of manslaughter by an Israeli military court last August and was jailed for eight years. The judges wrote in the verdict that "during his service as commander of a guarding tower at the Philadelphi route in Rafah at days of war, he fired one unnecessary shot, a criminal shot at an innocent person."
The British Guardian reported Tuesday that a British jury reached a similar decision Monday. Following the ruling, coroner Andrew Reid announced he would write to the attorney general about how similar fatalities could be prevented, including examining possible prosecutions of the Israeli commanders, particularly those issuing orders to open fire.
Last week, the same court found that British filmmaker James Miller had been murdered after being shot by an Israeli soldier in southern Gaza three weeks after Tom Hurndall.
Reid, who testified in both cases, explained that Israel's army posed a danger to British nationals, especially those covering the continuing conflict with the Palestinians.
"British citizens, journalists, photographers or others may be subject to the risk of fatal shots," he said.
Hurndall family members also demanded international justice by trying Israeli officers for involvement in the killing of their son.
"The British government is obliged to pursue any source of a war crime, and willful killing is a war crime under the Geneva Conventions Act," said the dead man's father, Anthony Hurndall.
After the verdict, a government source told the Guardian that the attorney general would "not shy away" from acting, and that "upsetting the Israelis" would not stop the case being pursued.
Britain, like other countries, enables launching international criminal procedures on its soil under universal jurisdiction authority. For this reason, the IDF cancelled Gaza Division Commander Brigadier-General Aviv Kochavi's leave to study in Britain. Major-General Doron Almog also encountered problems when his plane landed in London and was forced to stay on it so as not to be arrested.
So stay out of the frickin war zone
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Fortunately only enemy combattants have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, else this might come back and bite the Brits, the US too, unfortunately. Charging American's in the UK becomes a distinct possibility. Just takes a prosecutor or coroner, or the UK equivalent.
"...British peace activist Tom Hurndall..."
Good riddance.
Agreed!
When did it become wrong to kill peace activists ?
"Britain, like other countries, enables launching international criminal procedures on its soil under universal jurisdiction authority."
OK, let's see them go after Castro, the president of Sudan, or Hamas, or Mugabe, or any of the other prominent international criminals. . .
Israel is fighting for it's very existence.
The forebearance of the Israeli under this almost daily stress, marks them as either extremely civilized- or perhaps restricted by rotten politically correct pressures. Maybe both.
Damn the peace activists. It is so easy to go and make a big foo fah, then retreat to the safety and security of one's own country. That is the utter hypocracy of it. Keep out and stay out.
Yah good idea Alouette
When did Brit govt defend action of Rachel Corrie wantabes LOL!
MAN Brits govts are bunch of p***ys
So stay out of the frickin war zone
When will the British be bringing war crimes charges against British military personnel for their egregious conduct during the pre-1948 British occupation. Or will it be necessary for Israeli intelligence operatives to perform Eichman-like recovery of those persons to face Israeli justice?
Universal jurisdiction is dangerous as it could be used to give foreign folks standing in the courts. At least that's how it seems to me.
F the Brits. They still haven't gotten over the Jews of Israel driving them out. They still think the Jews live in some British colony. This is the leftist-Muslim alliance of Great Britain in action. They are a menace.
I don't mean to offend the British who have their heads on straight but too many of your fellow countrymen are wacko about Jews and Israel and I'm not even counting the Muslims you foolishly allowed to immigrate
The Left has not been in recent memory concerned with actual war criminals or with real tyrannies.
Then stay the hell out then! Israeli crew weren't filming when you clamped down on the Irish. Israel doesn't meddle in British affairs and you should stay the hell out of war zones in Gaza/West Bank
Damn "peace activist" who are just a bunch of bored commies. They were idlers in the UK so they go to Israel to make mischief
"F the Brits. They still haven't gotten over the Jews of Israel driving them out. They still think the Jews live in some British colony. This is the leftist-Muslim alliance of Great Britain in action. They are a menace.
I don't mean to offend the British who have their heads on straight but too many of your fellow countrymen are wacko about Jews and Israel and I'm not even counting the Muslims you foolishly allowed to immigrate"
The fact the an Israeli Court has already jailed this guy for manslaughter would suggest that there is not much 'wacko-ness' at play in this current case.
He's not the one being charged. The Brits plan on charging the chain of command, for authorizing the Sgt to fire, in a combat zone, under fire. Just as they attempted to charge the head of the IDF in Gaza. It's lunacy. In the absence of similar prosecutions of American and British commanders over similar crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dennisw's conclusion that it's simply an action designed to harm Israel with no moral underpinnings seems logical.
There's plenty of wackiness and leftist vengeance. The shooter is in prison for 8 years but the Brits want to prosecute his superiors. Nothing is enough for these Israel hating skunks. Muslim run rampant in England and the British still don't get it. Radical Muslims have bases in the UK and Muslims mass murdered 50 British last summer. Yet the Israel-Jew obsession remains. It's a sad commentary on a people who once had an Empire. Now reduced to harassing a small Jewish nation in the Middle East.
Why was this British pest in Israel in the first place? Ask yourself that question
British jury rules peace activist Ton Hurndall unlawfully, deliberately killed in Gaza Strip
What the heck was this pest doing in the Gaza Strip? Oh, he's a peace activist. A bored little limey bastard who goes to Israel to help their Muslim enemies. I'm sorry he's dead but you can tell who his evil friends are by who is going after the IDF
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1143498822884&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
29. How bad are the British?
Sidney - USA
04/09/2006 06:55Quoting Oriana Fallaci: London is also home to the most dangerous terrorists in the world. Members of Al Qaeda or Al Ansar or Hamas who even the Islamized France has expelled. Murderers whose country of origin, (such as Egypt or Algeria or Tunisia or Morocco), for years have been asking the British minister of Justice to extradite and whom the Minister of Justice refuses to hand over because they are "political refugees" or naturalized citizens. And they have the chutzpa to demand the extradition of someone found innocent in an Israeli court!
Talkbacks for this article: 34 Lawyers for the family of British filmmaker James Miller, killed in Gaza three years ago, are pressuring the British government to demand the extradition of an IDF officer to stand trial for murder, after a London court last week ruled his killing a homicide. The 10-member jury at the St. Pancras Coroner's Court in London on Thursday ruled that Miller's death was an "unlawful killing" and an "intentional act of murder", the solicitor for the Miller family, Louise Christian, told The Jerusalem Post. Miller's death was a "breach of the Geneva Conventions" Christian said, and "we are inviting the attorney-general to institute proceedings against Lt. Haib in this country and to demand his extradition," she said. The jury heard testimony that Haib, the leader of the IDF patrol on May 2, 2003 in Rafah, shot and killed the unarmed Miller, whom witnesses said was approaching Haib's patrol while holding a white flag at the time of his death. British police investigating the incident told the inquest they found no evidence that Miller posed a threat. However, Detective Inspector Robert Anderson told the court the IDF had been "uncooperative with the Metropolitan Police in that they haven't allowed us access to interview soldiers and witnesses."
British photographer James Miller who was killed by IDF forces
27. Theatre of the Absurd
Paul G - USA
04/09/2006 05:40
Excuse me, but a journalist filming a story that he found valuable for compensation and recognition, is killed while in a battle zone. Words and phrases such as "assumed the risk", "explosive situation", and "wrong place/wrong time" come to mind. It would be absurd to extradite this soldier to Britain or to take any further action in this matter. What the h--l is wrong with you people?
26. Miller
Shamus - USA
04/09/2006 04:43
Talk about "unlawful" killings what about the murder of wounded Argentine soldiers in the Malvinas?
24. British Justice
Hinda Blas - USA
04/09/2006 03:56
Using Rachel Corrie and a human shield as examples? Rachel Corrie and that british idiot knew the risks and were used to become "matyrs" for the Arafaters' causes. The filmmaker was warned not to be in the area. If they are told that -- why break orders? Oh wait - he's BRITISH --that's right -- Britian got bombed on July 7th and Ken Livingstone as well as George Galloway both stated that Britain deserved it. Who did the bombing? Muslims who are part of the ever growing arm of the Islamic Brotherhood. But Britain, sadly is not the same Britain of WW2. They are now appeasing the new Hitlers of the world. And we who can see through the smokescreen -- we are now the minorities of the world. A sad world indeed. ISRAEL - DON'T GIVE IN!!!!
23. Wish In One Hand....
Roy - USA
04/09/2006 03:10
If that IDIOT hadn't been somewhere where he wasn't wanted OR needed, he would still be alive and breathing. So, Family of Mr. Miller, wish in one hand, and make big potty in the other hand, and see which hand fills up first! Because wishing is ALL you are going to get to do!
22. Miller Family wants
Robert Nickisson - Australia
04/09/2006 02:58
Film Maker, Reporter, Peace Activist , all mean the same thing in an active volitile War situation. Troublemaker. All should heed the many warnings given to them and Keep Out of these areas or its go there at your own risk. No crying necessary for reckless stupidity.
21. Comment re the Falklands
Jason - Australia
04/09/2006 02:54
Perhaps the Argentinian Courts should rule that the Falklands belong to them and ask thEgland to extradite the guilty Brits who killed "innocent" Argies?
20. So honourable British
Cecil - Australia
04/09/2006 02:51
I look forward to the holier-than-thou British reaching a verdict of unlawful killing in the case of Charles Menendez (the innocent Brazilian shot 8 times in the London Subway) and then nobly offering to extradite the guilty officer(s) to Brazil for trial. But don t hold your breath
18. Tell it to the British
Sidney - USA
04/09/2006 02:46
Somebody ought to tell the British that the world is no longer subject to them. If they do not respect the Isreali legal system, why should any other country respect their legal system? When somebody comes to Israel, a condition for his admission is that he subjects himself to Israeli law. I deeply resent the term "murderer" used in this case. The man was found not guilty of murder in Israel. Furthermore, even in benighted England, they should understand the concepted of presumed innocent. He was not convicted of anything in a British court.
17. What about the things the Brittish Army has done in Northern Island?
Brendan Powning - Australia
04/09/2006 02:46
If you dont want to be at risk of getting shot then don't go to a war zone. If you try and approach armed troops in a combat area where suicide bombers are around theres a good chance you'll be fired on.The brittish have some guile to point the finger at the Israelis given the number of civilians their army killed in Northern Island.
16. Miller family
Roland - England
04/09/2006 02:24
The Miller family should take their grievances on their sad loss to the people that sent their son to a known dangerous area.They are the ones responsible
15. Don't give in
Annie
04/09/2006 02:19
At the outset let me say I am not Jewish, I was born and bred in Brtiain, but chose as an adult to live in Australia. I have dual nationality, but if Britain goes ahead with this travesty I will hang my head in shame and will in future accentuate my Australian loyalty rather than British status. This man knew the dangers, and his family knew also, they should accept he was a casualty of war. Britain more and more is going down a wrong path and will only get mired in the mud of their own making. Israel - do not give in to this hateful act of seeking after revenge blood of this family. It is sad they lost a son, but many people have also lost sons who were not in danger zones - just living a normal life. Israel, stand strong, your wonderful IDF deserve you to stand firmly behind them. Be well good folk Annie
14. British reporters should not take dangerous assignments.
Robert Finklestein - America
04/09/2006 02:00
Miller was killed at night, during an attack against the IDF by Palestinian-Arab terrorists. The Arab terrorists were using antitank missiles and light-weapons against the Jewish soldiers. The IDF was fighting back with just small arms, probably to limit the harm to Arab civilians. Why did James Miller stand up, during the Palestinian-Arab attack against the IDF, and in doing so, prevent the IDF from firing back to defend themselves from the Arab terrorist attack? Was James Miller hoping to get a close-up shot of Jewish soldiers being killed? Probably. Miller probably hoped for a great shot, of Jewish soldiers dying, that he could share with his family back in England. And..... It was at night! It was dark with shadows during a crossfire battle. Was James Miller that stupid that he didn't know that he was not only jeopardizing his own life, he was jeopardizing the lives of Jewish soldiers?
Yet no prosecutions up the chain of command, no accusations of war crimes.
Someone is either asleep at the switch, or obsessed with Israel.
Then again, the left would prosecute GWB, Cheney and Rumsfeld, along with a multitude of of "neocons" if they could get away with it. In the UK they can get away with it.
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