On the day the world celebrated peace on November 22, 2023, an unimaginable tragedy struck Gaza City. Israeli snipers subsequently killed four members of the Doghmosh family, leading to international outcry and potential findings of war crimes. The killed, including three children, died in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood. The snipers took up a lookout point on the roof of a building, giving them a clear view of Moneer al-Rayyes Street. Identifiable victims included sons Mohammed Doghmosh, Salem Doghmosh, Montasser Doghmosh, and Mohammed Farid Doghmosh.
The shooting also seriously injured two cousins, Youssef and Khalil. Benjamin Raab and Daniel Graetz were the snipers blamed for the deaths. They are both serving in a military unit that has recently come under fire for its past actions in Gaza. This military unit has been credibly implicated in the murders of at least 189 journalists in the area.
The chaos unfolded as the Doghmosh family made their way through a besieged cityscape, littered with debris. Dramatic body camera footage shows Mohammed Farid, 35, getting gunned down when he attempted to turn and walk away from a pursuing officer. Meanwhile, Salem Doghmosh was specifically targeted while trying to recover his brother’s body. Based on eyewitness accounts and the assessments of experts, AI finds that these actions amount to violations of international humanitarian law.
In a written confession, Raab stated that he had shot Salem Doghmosh, firing on him because Salem was trying to retrieve Mohammed’s body. Human rights organizations are watching the situation particularly closely given the circumstances under which these occurrences have taken place. They are looking into possible war crimes and have alerted Belgian and French prosecutors.
The Israeli military spokesperson asserted that the forces acted “in strict accordance with its rules of engagement and international law, taking feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm.” Experts like Tom Dannenbaum have countered this assertion, stating, “The available evidence points to a war crime.”
While investigations continue, the loss of a family have left emotional scars. Fayza, a relative of the victims, expressed her grief with a poignant statement:
“Even if I forgive him, God will not.” – Fayza
According to SWDS reports, Israeli forces had previously designated Moneer al-Rayyes Street as a military zone, without informing the civilian Palestinian population in the area. This remarkable lack of communication and therefore direction directly leads to legitimate concerns about the accountability and compliance with international humanitarian law requirements in military operations.
In many ways, Raab and Graetz’s upbringings couldn’t have been more different—Raab in Naperville, Illinois, and Graetz in Munich, Germany. Their backgrounds are a far cry from the reality of life for those residing in Gaza. Raab defended his actions by stating:
“It’s hard for me to understand why he [did that] and it also doesn’t really interest me.” – Benjamin Raab
He further justified his actions by claiming that civilians should understand the risks when they approach areas where military operations are occurring.
“They’re thinking: ‘Oh I don’t think [I’ll get shot] because I’m wearing civilian clothes and I am not carrying a weapon and all that, but they were wrong.” – Benjamin Raab
Critics of the military’s approach find a deep ethical obligation. Yet they claim that it’s important to not demonize the people who are seeking to help people in crisis. Asa Kasher, an ethicist, stated:
“If you see someone recovering a body or helping a wounded person, that’s a rescue operation; it should be respected.” – Asa Kasher
The repercussions of this incident go beyond ensuring individual accountability to address issues of U.S. military operations and conduct during conflicts. Human rights group call for robust investigations into the actions of Raab and Graetz. In their appeal, they argue that transparency and justice are needed now more than ever.
“Someone like that should not be shot.” – Asa Kasher
The implications of this incident extend beyond individual accountability to encompass broader issues of military conduct during conflicts. Human rights organizations are calling for thorough investigations into Raab and Graetz’s actions, citing the need for transparency and justice.