UN observers are killed by an Israeli bomb dropped on their observation post, ending the lives of peacekeepers from Austria, Canada, China and Finland, after they had managed to survive being shelled 14 times earlier by Israeli artilery.
“I am shocked and deeply distressed by the apparently deliberate targeting by Israeli Defence Forces of a UN Observer post in southern Lebanon,” said UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
UN observers have been in the area since 1978—both sides of this conflict know exactly where the UN forces have been stationed. Shelling and then bombing such a location can hardly be classified a “mistake”.
When is this madness going to stop? Another checkbox on the potential war-crimes list… is this Stephen Harper’s idea of a “measured response”?
Two stories in one: Canadian troops on the ground rescue some of our citizens from Tyre in Southern Lebanon, while the rescued give us a glimpse as to what they left behind.
As bombs fell a few hundred metres away, several hundred refugees including the Canadians climbed into life rafts and were ferried to the Princesa Marissa anchored off shore. The ship did not even attempt to dock to stay clear of the blasts.
“It was 13 days of bombing – every day, night and day,” Adouy Ali of Montreal told reporters dockside in Cyprus. His pregnant wife and two children were with him.
“That’s why we’re tired, and the kids are tired too. The sentiment is very angry because everything is against the civilians. And the civilians – all the people dying are civilians -every day.” [CP – Canadians safe after dramatic rescue in violent southern city]
Meanwhile the U.S. refuses to push for a ceasefire, and Canada goose-stepping along to the same tune.