Overview
On April 18, 1996, during "Operation Grapes of Wrath," the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) fired artillery shells at a United Nations compound in Qana, Lebanon, which was housing over 800 displaced civilians. The shelling killed 106 people and wounded many more.
The "Drone Video" Controversy
Israel officially claimed the incident was a tragic accident caused by incorrect mapping and a response to Hezbollah mortar fire nearby. However, a video leaked to a UN advisor showed an Israeli surveillance drone over the compound during the shelling. This contradicted initial Israeli claims that they were unaware civilians were in the area and that no drone was observing the site at the time.
The UN Cover-Up Claim
The UN Military Advisor, Major-General Franklin van Kappen, conducted an investigation and concluded that the pattern of shelling made it "unlikely" that the compound was hit by accident. Human rights groups and several UN officials alleged that the United States pressured the UN to soften the report's language to protect Israel from war crime allegations, fueling a long-lasting conspiracy regarding "selective justice" within the UN Security Council.