Hundreds Killed in Sabra and Shatila Refugee Camp Massacre
Christian Phalangist militias kill hundreds of Palestinian civilians in Beirut refugee camps while Israeli forces control the area.
Hundreds of Palestinian civilians have been massacred in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in West Beirut, according to Red Cross officials and journalists who entered the camps this morning. The killings, carried out by Lebanese Christian Phalangist militias, occurred while Israeli forces surrounded and controlled access to the camps.
Eyewitnesses report seeing bodies of men, women, and children scattered throughout the camps’ narrow alleyways. Many victims showed signs of execution-style killings. The exact death toll remains unclear, with estimates ranging from several hundred to over a thousand.
The massacre began on Thursday evening after Israeli forces allowed Phalangist militiamen to enter the camps, ostensibly to root out PLO fighters. Israeli military officials claim they were unaware of the killings taking place, despite their forces’ positions overlooking the camps and reports of flares being fired to illuminate the area at night.
International outrage is mounting, with calls for immediate investigations and accountability. The massacre has sparked massive protests in Israel, with hundreds of thousands demonstrating in Tel Aviv demanding a government inquiry.
Defense Minister Ariel Sharon is facing intense criticism for allowing the Phalangists into the camps. The incident has severely damaged Israel’s international standing and raised serious questions about its responsibility for protecting civilian populations in areas under its military control.
The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the massacre and called for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from Beirut.