GAZA, September 7, 2009 (WAFA)- The Israeli Military Police started an investigation into killing and wounding of Palestinians carrying white flags during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.

They interviewed Mr. Khalid Abed-Rabbo and his mother, Mrs. Su'ad Abed-Rabbo, at the Erez Crossing. The interviews mark the start of an investigation into the case, in which Israeli soldiers opened fire at close range at the Abed-Rabbo family, killing two of Khalid Abed-Rabbo's daughters and severely injuring a third.

In report published in September 2, by Adalah, Al-Haq and Al Mezan, Following Demand for Criminal Investigation, Israeli Military Police Begin Probe into Killing and Wounding of Palestinians Carrying White Flags during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. The Israeli military police interviewed Mr. Khalid Abed-Rabbo and his mother, Mrs. Su'ad Abed-Rabbo, at the Erez Crossing.

 Khalid's mother, Ms. Su'ad Abed-Rabbo, was also injured. The Israeli army then destroyed the family's house and more than two hundred other houses in the Ezbet Abed-Rabbo neighborhood, where the attack occurred. The investigation into the case by the Israeli authorities was initiated after the submission of a complaint by Adalah, Al-Haq and Al Mezan to the Israeli Military Advocate General in early June 2009 demanding an investigation. The complaint also addressed the killing of Adham Khamis Mohammad Naseir (37) who was shot and killed while trying to assist in the evacuation of Su'ad Abed Rabo.

According to the investigation conducted by Adalah, Al-Haq and Al Mezan into the incident, on 7 January 2009 Israeli soldiers operating in the Ezbet Abed-Rabbo neighborhood, located east of Jabalia town in the north of the Gaza Strip, used loudspeakers to order local residents to evacuate their houses. Mr. Khalid Abed-Rabbo, who lived with his extended family in a four-story house in the neighborhood, left his house with his mother, his wife and his three daughters. The family was carrying white flags.

 They stood in front of the door of the house for about ten minutes. There were two Israeli tanks stationed nearby, one of which was about 15 meters away from the family. Two Israeli soldiers were sitting on top of the tank eating snacks. A third soldier appeared from the tank's hatch and opened fire directly at the family.

The shooting lasted for about one minute. Khalid Abed Rabbo initially thought that the soldier was aiming at the ground and firing warning shots. However, he then saw that his mother, Su'ad, and his three daughters, Amal, Su'ad and Samar (two and a half, four, and nine respectively) were injured. The family managed to pull the girls inside the house. Su'ad had ran back to the house and fallen in the entrance of the house.

When the Abed-Rabbo family survivors returned to their home on 18 January 2009, the first day of the ceasefire after the end of Operation Cast Lead, they found their house destroyed. Evidence at the scene showed that the house had been brought down with explosives. Another 178 houses in the neighborhood were completely destroyed and 129 were partially destroyed. The vast majority of the destruction took place after 7 January, when the neighborhood was under the effective control of the Israeli army.

Khalid's surviving daughter was hospitalized in Gaza for a few days before being transferred to a hospital in Belgium due to the severity of her injuries. She remains there with her mother and two brothers. She is paralyzed in her lower limbs. Around eight months after her injury, her father remains unable to visit her, as he is unable to obtain a visa to enter Belgium.

At the end of the report mentioned that Israel is responsible for the conduct of its army. It is therefore under a clear obligation to investigate all of violations of international law by its army and to hold to account those who perpetrate such violations against civilians and their property.