JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel on Tuesday stood by its new policy of firing artillery shells at Palestinian rocket squads operating from populated areas in Gaza, even after a round killed an 8-year-old Palestinian girl.
The Israeli military intensified its offensive against Palestinian rocket fire after the Hamas militant group took charge of the Palestinian Authority two weeks ago.
In a major policy shift, it has allowed guns to fire close enough to hit populated areas. That change claimed the life of 8-year-old Hadil Ghaben on Monday, after two shells blew huge holes in a concrete block house in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip. The girl's mother and seven siblings were hurt in the attack.
Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said Tuesday that "as long as it's not quiet here (in Israel), it won't be quiet there (in Gaza)."
Deputy Defence Minister Zeev Boim apologized for the girl's death, but said the military operations would continue as long as Palestinian militants continue to launch rockets at Israel.
"We are very sorry about it, but you have to understand that the military's task is to defend the security of the citizens of Israel," Boim said. "If the Hamas government will not control these terrorists from firing Qassam (rockets) against Israeli civilians in cities and communities, we will continue to push these citizens out of the range of these rockets."
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Another murder by IDF forces. I am sure it is some kind of crime to shell an area with high civilian population. I believe they should be charged for war crimes.