Warnings That Kill: Taking You Through An Israeli Airstrike In Gaza

Forensic Architecture, a research project team based at Goldsmiths, generate evidence on drone strikes where there is little information available. In this case study, the Forensic Architecture team take you through an investigation into a drone strike in Gaza which killed six women and children. This is one of a number of case studies that was presented to the UN this week by Special Rapporteur, Ben Emmerson. You can find more on the web based platform, including maps and further case studies of drone strikes in Yemen and Pakistan.

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In the early hours of 9 January 2009, the Salha family was asleep in their home in Beit Lahiya, Northern Gaza.

Via © Chris Cobb-Smith/Amnesty International

Suddenly, an antitank missile was fired at the house from an Israeli drone. It penetrated the roof, entered one of the rooms, and hit the floor, leaving a small hole. Three minutes later a bomb struck and destroyed the house. Six people were killed, all women and children.

Via © Al Mezan

This strike is part of a new strategy adopted by the Israeli military referred to as “knock on the roof.” It is one of several methods used to alert residents of an imminent attack. When receiving such warnings, the inhabitants of a house need to make a choice—they can either leave the house and risk their lives in the streets, or remain in the house. Neither choice is particularly safe.

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If they remain in their houses, their status changes in the eyes of Israeli military lawyers. According to their interpretation of the law, if a warning has been issued and not heeded, the victim might no longer be considered as a “noncombatant” but rather as a voluntary “human shield.” Their killing is thus considered to be “justified collateral damage.”

Via © Al Jazeera English and Forensic Architecture

On 28 August 2013, Forensic Architecture - a research project based at Goldsmiths, University of London - interviewed two of the surviving members of the Salha family in Gaza by live satellite link from the Al Jazeera English studios in London. Fayez Salha, the father, and Noor Salha, his son, have been attempting to bring their story to public attention and obtain redress for their loss. With the family’s help, we built a detailed model of their home.

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The family were all asleep despite the fact that Gaza was under Israeli attack. At 3:00am a warning missile was fired at the building. Rather than only shaking the building, it penetrated through the roof and entered one of the rooms. Noor realized that the noise had not come from outside when he saw smoke coming from the children’s room/library.

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NOOR SALHA: “There was the sound of a loud explosion… these were moments of fear.”

FORENSIC ARCHITECTURE: “So, the family was familiar with this kind of strike being used as a warning?”

NOOR SALHA: “No actually, this is almost the first time we saw this. Of course I realized this was a warning strike after the missile fell.”

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It was not clear to the family that the strike was a warning. The family did not know that the warning strike left them with barely three minutes to leave the house before it was to be bombed and destroyed.

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The family gathered by the stairs, ready to leave, but Noor’s mother wanted the family to separate into two groups. The reason for exiting in two groups was the family’s fear that larger groups moving at night might be seen as suspicious by the Israelis and targeted. Noor left the house with four of his relatives, but his mother stayed behind.

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When Noor was 50 meters away from the building, the second group were about to leave the house. They had just reached the bottom of the stairs when the bomb struck the building, merely three minutes after the warning missile had hit.

NOOR SALHA: “The sound of the second strike was very loud and strong, to the point that it shook the buildings next to the target.”

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Two women, Randa (34) and Fatma (22), and four children, Diya’ (13), Rana (12), Baha’(7), and Rola (1), were killed. The Salha family petitioned the Israeli Courts for justice, but their case was dismissed. Despite admitting the strike was a mistake, the court ruled that the state is not liable for consequences resulting from an act of war.

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A picture of Baha’ Salha

No one was charged with the killing of the Salha family and the destruction of their home.