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Matan Vilnai
In July 2007, the suspect along with his accomplices ordered
a siege on 1.5 million people in Gaza. The siege caused severe deprivation
by preventing the regular supply of food, water, gas, electricity, and
medication to the residents living there. The siege lasted for 18 months, is
still ongoing, and included a naval, air and land blockade.
In February 2008, the suspect said on Israeli army radio "the more the
Qassam rocket fire intensifies and the rockets reach a longer range, (the
Palestinians) will bring upon themselves a holocaust."
Indeed on 27th December 2008, the suspect as Deputy Defense Minister, was part of a
cabinet decision which ordered air, naval and ground attacks on densely populated
areas in Gaza - attacks that lasted for about 3 weeks. As a result of the
attacks, entire buildings collapsed on residents and infants were found
starving next to their dead parents. Wounded people were buried under rubble
for many days because IDF soldiers prevented medics from reaching them.
(According to reports by the Red Cross.)
Some 1,300 people were killed, hundreds of them children. 5,300 were
wounded. The air force bombs and tank shells hit hospitals, clinics,
schools, infrastructure, UN buildings, electricity and water sources - leaving hundreds of
thousands without the necessities for life.
In December 2008, a lawsuit was filed against the suspect in
the International Criminal Court, The Hague on suspicion that the siege of
Gaza breached international law and was thus a war crime and crime against
humanity.
Description of the suspect: a white man, about 65 years old,
shaven head, above average height.
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Photo courtesy of the IDF Spokesperson
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