Full Breakdown
Investigation Reveals War Crimes by Israeli Snipers in Gaza
9/12/2025, 2:38:28 PM
Overview of the Incident
On November 22, 2023, a tragic incident in Gaza City resulted in the deaths of four members of the Doghmosh family, allegedly at the hands of Israeli snipers Daniel Raab and Daniel Graetz. This incident has been the focus of a comprehensive investigation conducted by The Guardian, Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ), Paper Trail Media, Der Spiegel, and ZDF. The investigation highlights potential violations of international law and has raised serious allegations of war crimes.
Details of the Killings
The Doghmosh family was targeted while in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood. Salem Doghmosh, 19, was shot in the head while attempting to recover the body of his brother, Mohammed, who had been killed moments earlier. Their father, Montasser, 51, was also shot while trying to reach his sons. A distant cousin, Mohammed Farid, was killed nearby. Eyewitness accounts and video footage corroborate the sequence of events, showing the family members were unarmed and posed no threat.
Raab, in a video interview, admitted to knowing Salem was unarmed when he shot him, expressing a chilling indifference to the act. He stated, “It’s hard for me to understand why he [Salem] would risk so much for that. What was so important about a corpse?” This admission has drawn widespread condemnation and has been characterized by legal experts as indicative of war crimes.
Official Responses and Criticism
The Israeli military has maintained that its operations adhere to international law and its rules of engagement. However, the evidence presented in the investigation contradicts these claims. Tom Dannenbaum, a professor of international law, stated that the available evidence points to a war crime. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called for the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Raab for his actions, emphasizing that U.S. citizens can be held accountable for war crimes committed abroad.
Critics have also highlighted the broader implications of these actions, describing them as part of a systematic pattern of violence against unarmed civilians in Gaza. Human rights organizations have increasingly labeled the ongoing conflict as genocide, with formal investigations underway at the International Court of Justice.
Eyewitness Accounts and Survivor Testimonies
Fayza Doghmosh, the mother of Salem and Mohammed, expressed her anguish upon viewing footage of her sons' deaths, stating, “Even if I forgive him, God will not.” Survivors and witnesses have recounted the chaos and horror of the day, emphasizing the lack of threat posed by the Doghmosh family members, who were merely trying to retrieve their loved ones.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
While the investigation has provided substantial evidence of the killings, the Israeli military has not commented on the specific allegations regarding Raab and Graetz. There remains a gap in the military's acknowledgment of the incidents and the broader context of civilian casualties in Gaza, which continues to escalate amid ongoing military operations.
Conclusion
The investigation into the killings of the Doghmosh family raises significant concerns about the conduct of Israeli forces in Gaza. As international scrutiny increases, the implications of these findings could lead to further legal actions and calls for accountability regarding the treatment of civilians in conflict zones. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing discussions about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the need for a comprehensive resolution to the conflict.
