Appendix: Human Rights Watch Letter to the Israel Defense Forces

IDF Spokesperson Unit International Organization Desk Phone: 03 569 1842 Fax: 03 569 3971

March 12, 2009

Dear General Benayahu,

Human Rights Watch is very hopeful that it will be possible to meet with the IDF legal department on March 25, as requested in our letter sent earlier today.

In addition, we would very much appreciate it if your office could provide us with responses to the questions listed below, which relate to the IDF's use of UCAVs (unmanned combat aerial vehicles or drones) during "Operation Cast Lead."

We would appreciate it very much if you could provide us with a reply by March 30, 2009.

For what purposes did the IDF employ UCAVs during Operation Cast Lead?

What UCAVs (unmanned combat aerial vehicles) did Israel use in Gaza during the conflict?  What other UAVs were used for reconnaissance or other purposes?

What is the standard armament of IDF UCAVs? Was this the armament deployed during Operation Cast Lead?

How precise are the electro-optical sensors on IDF UAVs or other ISAR (intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance) platforms?

At what NIIRS (National Image Interpretability Rating Scales) do the sensors on IDF UAVs provide images?

Did the IDF perform a collateral damage estimate for attacks involving UCAVs?

Did members of the JAG corps participate in UCAV attack evaluations?

 Are IDF UCAV operators rated pilots?

 Could you please provide an overall figure for the number of drone attacks during Operation Cast Lead?  Could you also please share with us the casualty rates resulting from those attacks?

What was the military objective of the drone missile attack at about 1:30 p.m. in the afternoon of December 27, the first day of the IDF offensive, that struck a group of young men standing near the entrance of the Gaza Technical College [GPS 31.51162/034.44336]?

 What was the military objective of the drone missile attack at around 4:30 p.m. on December 29, 2008 on Zimmo Street east of Jabalya town, striking a truck owned by the Sammour family?  The IDF subsequently released a video of this attack, viewable at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG0CzM_Frvc&feature=channel_page

 What was the military objective of the drone missile attack at around 10:30 a.m. on January 4, 2009, that struck the rooftop of the Mashhrawi family home in Gaza City [GPS 31.51243/034.45655]?

 What was the military objective of the drone missile attack at around 3 p.m. on January 4, 2009 that struck the roof of the Habbash family home in the Sha'f neighborhood of Gaza City [GPS 31.50928/034.47826]?

 What was the military objective of the drone missile attack at around noon on January 5, 2009 that struck the roof of the `Allaw family home, also in the Sha'f neighborhood of Gaza City [GPS 31.50828/034.47721]?

 What was the military objective of the drone missile attack at around 2:15 p.m. on January 9, 2009 that struck persons in the street near the al-`Amda Restaurant in Khan Tunis?

Could you please provide us with the opportunity to view video recordings of IDF drone attacks on Gaza City on December 27, 2008, January 4, 2009, January 5, 2009, and January 9, 2009? 

Thank you very much for your response to these questions.

Sincerely,

Joe Stork

Deputy Director, Middle East and North Africa division