The Command Post
Global War on Terror
October 02, 2004
UPDATE: IDF releases footage of militants loading rockets into 'UN' vehicle

On the Ha'aretz newsticker:

IDF releases video footage taken by unmanned aircraft showing militants loading vehicle marked `UN` with rockets. (AP)

More information and links to the video when it becomes available.

AP/HAARETZ: IDF releases footage of militants loading rockets into 'UN' vehicle

The Israel Defense Forces released video footage Friday taken by an unmanned aircraft showing what appeared to be Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip loading rockets into a vehicle marked "UN."

The black-and-white footage, taken by a drone - or unmanned aircraft - flying over the Gaza Strip, showed the militants driving off in the white van, with "UN" marked in black on its roof.

Israel has often accused militants of using United Nations vehicles and headquarters to launch attacks. UN officials were not immediately available for comment.

Israel has also accused officials from the UN Relief and Works Agency, responsible for caring for thousands of refugees in the Gaza Strip, of turning a blind eye to militant activities in their vicinity, and of clear bias against Israel.

The IDF uses drones to monitor activities in the crowded Gaza refugee camps. The footage provides soldiers and pilots real-time pictures of what is happening on the ground.

un.jpg

VIDEO LINK

This is on top of video evidence of the use of clearly-marked UN ambulances having recently been brought to UNRWA Commissioner Peter Hansen's attention.

Peter Hansen has yet to apologize for, investigate, or adequately prevent the use of his agency's resources by armed terrorists. Let him know what you think at his e-mail address: h.unrwa@unrwa.org.

FYI:
According to the UNRWA FAQ:

ALLEGATION: "UNRWA staff are involved in terrorist activity."

FACT: The Agency expects strict compliance with its rules of conduct and staff regulations, including the requirement for staff members to behave with integrity and impartiality in the conduct of their official functions. Whenever a staff member has been arrested by Israel, or any other authority, UNRWA writes immediately to that authority requesting information concerning the grounds for the arrest in order that, among other things, it may take disciplinary action against the staff member whenever warranted.

Since October 2000 to-date, and even though hundreds of UNRWA staff have been detained and subsequently released, only two named individuals have been brought to UNRWA’s attention. One only appeared in the Israeli media. He is an UNRWA ambulance driver who supposedly admitted to moving weapons in his ambulance. This is a man who was held without charge by Israel and then released in late 2002 - an unlikely turn of events if there had been any evidence against him. In the other case, despite the claim that one of our vehicles was used for transporting fighters, UNRWA has not been given relevant details, such as the alleged dates, by the Israeli authorities.. We’d like to investigate, particularly as the staff member in question did not have regular access to an UNRWA vehicle. The confession he signed was in Hebrew, a language he does not understand.

Time to update the FAQ, Peter.

Posted by Laurence Simon at October 2, 2004 11:30 AM | TrackBack
Comments

Well I'm shocked. I just dont understand why Israel wont play ball with UN demands.

Posted by: mark buehner [TypeKey Profile Page] at October 1, 2004 09:28 PM

But ... but ... it's the UN! Proctors of the 'global test.'

Or maybe it was some other 'procto' word.

Posted by: Achillea [TypeKey Profile Page] at October 1, 2004 11:42 PM

It's called protective coloration.

Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't.

But in Asymmetric Warfare, it often does.

Posted by: Don [TypeKey Profile Page] at October 2, 2004 01:56 PM

Are you saying the militants are painting the UN on top of their vans so that.. what? Vigilantes with molotov cocktails that think the UN isn't doing enough can attack them? So that Israeli helicopters won't target an innocent white van?

Posted by: Connolly [TypeKey Profile Page] at October 2, 2004 04:04 PM

According to the UN, the Palestinians aren't loading on a rocket, but a portable stretcher.

Now sure the UN vehicle is shown pretty darned close to the heat signature from the initial rocket launch. That it's associated with terrorist activities is IMHO pretty clear.

But I have to say that after several viewings of the video, I think the long, thin object being carried easily by one man running looks a lot more like a stretcher than a 122mm rocket, and appears to weigh a lot less than the 75-200lbs or so that a Qassam rocket weighs.

It could be a launch frame. But a Qassam 2 is too short and a bit heavy at 75 lbs, the Qassam 3 the right length but far too heavy and broad. The Qassam 1 is far, far, far too short - but the right weight. A 122mm BM-21 is the right length, but at 100 lbs, also too heavy.

Much as I would like the IDF to have caught video evidence of a 'smoking gun', I calls 'em how I sees 'em. I'm not a trained photo-intepreter and could easily be mistaken, but that's my opinion. I welcome correction.

Posted by: aebrain [TypeKey Profile Page] at October 3, 2004 10:51 AM

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