Israelis admit Qana bombing mistake but blame Hezbollah tactics

THE Israeli military’s inquiry into the bombing of a building in the Lebanese village of Qana that killed at least 28 civilians admits a mistake, but says Hezbollah guerrillas used civilians as shields for rocket attacks.

Israeli planes attacked an apartment house in Qana early Sunday. The house collapsed, and rescue workers pulled the bodies of civilians, most women and children, out of the rubble.

An international outcry led Israel to call a halt to its air strikes in Lebanon for 48 hours and increased pressure to agree to a ceasefire in its three-week offensive against Hezbollah.

Human Rights Watch said an initial death toll for Qana of 54 was incorrect. The international group listed the names of 28 known dead from the attack and said that 13 others were missing and might still be buried under the rubble.

George Kitane, head of Lebanese Red Cross paramedics, said 19 children were among the dead.

In a statement summarising the inquiry report, the Israeli military said Israel did not know there were civilians in the building.

“Had the information indicated that civilians were present ... the attack would not have been carried out,” the statement said.

The bombing followed guidelines regarding attacking “suspicious structures” in villages where civilians have been warned to evacuate, the statement said, adding that Hezbollah forces “use civilian structures inside villages to store weaponry and hide in after launching rocket attacks”.

The statement said more than 150 rockets have been launched from Qana and the area around it since July 12, when the current conflict erupted.

Amnesty International decried the investigation as a “whitewash”, calling for an independent probe.

Human Rights Watch echoed the call for an independent inquiry.