Spanish judge probes 2002 Israeli attack on Hamas in Gaza
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A Spanish judge is opening a probe of seven current or former Israeli officials over a 2002 bombing in Gaza that killed a Hamas terrorist and 14 other people, including nine children.
Judge Fernando Andreu said the attack by Israel against Salah Shehadeh in a densely populated civilian area may constitute a crime against humanity.
The judge is acting under a doctrine that allows prosecution in Spain of such an offense or crimes like terrorism or genocide even if they are alleged to have been committed in another country.
Andreu announced the probe in a writ issued Thursday.
The people named in the suit include Dan Halutz, who it says commanded Israel's air force at the time, and Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, then defense minister and now the minister of infrastructure.