2006 Qana airstrike

On the 30 July, 2006, during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, Qana came under attack by Israeli forces. A double airstrike on an apartment building near what Israel claims is a Hezbollah rocket-launching site in the downtown district killed at least 54 (including 34-37 children) and injured many others. The circumstances were similar to those of a 1996 incident in which over 100 civilians died. Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said the Qana bombing made the need for a settlement more urgent. He denounced "Israeli war criminals" and cancelled talks with the US secretary of state. Prime Minister Siniora appealed to the U.N. Security Council for an emergency session, which will hold consultations on July 30, 2006.

Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert expressed regret over the incident and said that residents have been warned to leave the area. Olmert said that Hezbollah used Qana to store and fire Katyusha rockets, and used the villagers as human shields. "We will not blink in front of Hizbollah and we will not stop the offensive despite the difficult circumstances." Still, a BBC spokesperson has said that Israel was bombing roads and civilians were either too afraid to move or to leave their homes. It is also reported that Hizbollah encourage residents to stay.

The Israel Defense Forces claimed that they were targetting buildings they believed were being used by Hezbollah to hide in immediately after they would launch rockets at Israel. All the people were killed in the building's bomb shelter. IDF Spokeperson said that the target was selected through identification and analysis, and they would not have attacked had they known of civilian activity.

Reactions

Middle East

• Egypt - President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak stated that "The Arab Republic of Egypt expresses its profound alarm and its condemnation of the irresponsible Israeli bombing of the Lebanese village of Qana, which resulted in innocent casualties, mostly women and children."

• Iran - The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that "The Qana bombing is the outcome of Rice's trip to the region. Some American officials should be put on trial for the crimes in Lebanon."

• Israel - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that ""All the residents (of Qana) were warned and told to leave. No one was ordered to fire on civilians and we have no policy of killing."

• Jordan - Jordanian King Abdullah II condemned "the ugly crime perpetrated by Israeli forces in Qana."

• Lebanon - The Lebanese government has asked Condoleeza Rice to cancel a visit to Lebanon insisting that they will only negotiate an immediate, unconditional cease-fire. Lebanese Defence Minister Elias Murr disputed allegations that Hezbollah was firing missiles from Qana and said "What do you expect Israel to say? Will it say that it killed 40 children and women?"

Europe

• France - French President Jacques Chirac: ""France condemns this unjustifiable action, which shows more than ever the need to move toward an immediate cease-fire."

• United Kingdom - British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett stated: "It's absolutely dreadful, it's quite appalling. We have repeatedly urged Israel to act proportionately."

• Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI said that "In the name of God, I call on all those responsible for this spiral of violence so that weapons are immediately laid down on all sides."

Other countries

• United States - United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated that she postponed her visit to Beirut, adding that "I think it is time to get to a ceasefire."

Organizations

• Arab League - League's Secretery-General said that "The attacks that Israeli forces are launching targeting civilians and the Lebanese infrastructure are another confirmation of Israeli aggressive intentions."

• European Union - EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, said that he has "talked to the Prime Minister of Lebanon ... I have expressed to him my profound dismay and deep sorrow at the attack and the death of innocent civilians in Qana. Nothing can justify that."

• File:HamasLogo.jpg Hamas - A Hamas legislator said that "In the face of this open war against the Arab and Muslim nations all options are open, including striking the depth of the Zionist entity."

• File:Flag of Hezbollah.svg Hezbollah - Stated that "this horrific massacre will not go without a response."

• United Nations - United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called an emergency Security Council meeting Sunday at the request of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora where a French draft resolution, include an immediate cease-fire, will be discussed.

See also

• 1996 shelling of Qana