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King Abdullah II of Jordan, left, gestures during a welcoming ceremony with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, prior to their meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. Jordan s King Abdullah II has begun a brief visit to the West Bank in support of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas successful bid for U.N. recognition of a state of Palestine.
JERUSALEM—A leading human rights group is accusing Israel of violating the laws of war when it killed 12 civilians in an airstrike during its recent conflict with Palestinian militants in Gaza.

Israel attacked the home of the Daloo family in Gaza City, killing 10 family members and two other civilians. Israel's army says the home was a hideout for a senior Hamas militant involved in rocket attacks.

Human Rights Watch claims the man Israel targeted was a low-ranking police officer. In its report released Friday, it says Israel's attack was unlawful because of the large number of civilians killed.

The Israeli army said in a statement that it worked to minimize noncombatant casualties, and civilians were never a target. The army blamed militants for using civilian buildings as hideouts.

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