Prominent international organizations on Tuesday blamed Israel for a Palestinian rocket that hit the offices of the Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) in the Gaza Strip.
Along with the ICHR, left-wing human rights organization Amnesty International and left-wing activist group Code Pink blamed Israel for the rocket that later reports revealed was fired by terrorists aiming at Israel.
The rocket's explosion, which injured one employee and damaged the building, was most likely collateral damage from a missile barrage orchestrated by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Times of Israel reports. It came on the same day Palestinian Islamic Jihad rained missiles on Israel in response to the Israel Defense Forces' assassination of Baha Abu al-Ata, a leader of the terrorist group.
The IDF fired retaliatory airstrikes on Wednesday, which were only aimed at Palestinian Islamic Jihad targets, a spokesman said.
A video from ELINT News shows a rocket fired on Tuesday from within Gaza hitting the fifth floor of the building in which the ICHR offices are located.
Video from the @Reuters livestream via @RelicHq showing the errant Palestinian rocket falling short and hitting the Palestinian Independent Commission For Human Rights building in Gaza. Not an Israeli airstrike. pic.twitter.com/P76Dx0RyIU
— ELINT News (@ELINTNews) November 13, 2019
Israeli sources confirmed that the IDF did not fire the rocket. The explosion received a media blackout in Gaza, a sign that the rocket had been fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Although it initially condemned Israel in a tweet for a "violation of international law," Amnesty International wrote a follow-up tweet clarifying its earlier condemnation.
"Conflicting information is circulating about what exactly hit the @ichr_pal office in Gaza and where the attack came from," the organization wrote. "@amnesty is calling for an impartial investigation into this incident and other events in Gaza today."
Conflicting information is circulating about what exactly hit the @ichr_pal office in Gaza and where the attack came from. @amnesty is calling for an impartial investigation into this incident and other events in Gaza today
— Amnesty International (@amnesty) November 12, 2019
Palestinian Islamic Jihad fired more than 250 rockets at Israel in response to the killing of Abu al-Ata.