A blast in northern Gaza that killed a Palestinian mother and her four children on Monday was not caused by the Israeli Air Force or by Israel Defense Forces ground troops, an investigation into the explosion conducted by the IDF Southern Command concluded on Friday.
Col. Shai Alkalai from the Southern Command was charged with conducting the probe by orders of Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant and IAF Commander Maj. Gen. Elazar Shkedi.
The blast occurred Monday morning in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanun. Palestinians claimed that an IDF tank shell hit the home of the Abu Meatak family, as the mother Miyasar was preparing breakfast for her children, killing her and her four children.
However, the probe -- relying on infrared aerial photography -- found that four Islamic militants were carrying weaponry and explosives on their backs, approaching an IDF position. The IAF fire was on target and only hit the armed terrorists. But the Palestinian attackers' boms caused secondary explosions which destroyed the home and killed the mother and her children.
The IDF probe ruled out the possibility that the family was hit by IDF fire and revealed that the secondary explosion was far greater than the explosion caused by the initial IDF bombing and the munitions it had used.
The IDF said that it was unfortunate that innocent people were killed in the incident, but stressed that the blame lay with Hamas which operated from populated areas, using civilians as human shields.
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