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Spain Closes 2002 Investigation into Gaza Massacre

January 31, 2014 at 12:50 pm

Yesterday, Spain’s Supreme Court upheld the Spanish National Court’s decision to close a judicial investigation into Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip in 2002. The incident in question resulted in the death of Shaykh Salah Shehada, a leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement [Hamas], as well as 14 civilians including many children, and injuring 150 others.

The Supreme Court rejected appeal requests submitted by two Arab solidarity unions asserting that Israel had carried out their own “authentic” administrative and judicial investigation into the bombing.

The Supreme Court’s decision asserted that Israel had presented a “comprehensive” document proving that the issue had been investigated. It also stated that one of the committee members appointed by the Israeli government had now confirmed the findings with certainty.


The presiding judge at the National Court, Fernando Andrew, had previously stated that the bombardment of Gaza could represent a crime against humanity.

Among the accused, whose names were identified by Andrew, was the former Israeli Security Minister Binyamin Ben Elizer and six others who could be either former or serving military officers or security officials.

This case was the source of prior diplomatic tension between Spain and Israel.