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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Israelis 'followed law in Gaza' | Israelis 'followed law in Gaza' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Israeli military says an internal investigation has shown that it operated according to international law during its recent operation in Gaza. | The Israeli military says an internal investigation has shown that it operated according to international law during its recent operation in Gaza. |
| Troops maintained "a high professional" level against "an enemy that aimed to terrorise Israeli civilians", it said. | Troops maintained "a high professional" level against "an enemy that aimed to terrorise Israeli civilians", it said. |
| A small number of intelligence or operational errors did take place but these were unavoidable, it said. | A small number of intelligence or operational errors did take place but these were unavoidable, it said. |
| Israel has faced criticism since the three-week conflict ended in January over the high level of civilian deaths. | Israel has faced criticism since the three-week conflict ended in January over the high level of civilian deaths. |
| Palestinians say more than 1,400 Gazans were killed, of whom more than two-thirds were civilians. Israel puts the figure lower, at 1,166 dead, of whom it says about two-thirds were fighters. | Palestinians say more than 1,400 Gazans were killed, of whom more than two-thirds were civilians. Israel puts the figure lower, at 1,166 dead, of whom it says about two-thirds were fighters. |
| Ten Israeli soldiers were killed and three civilians died in rocket attacks. | Ten Israeli soldiers were killed and three civilians died in rocket attacks. |
| Earlier this month, the United Nations appointed former war crimes prosecutor Richard Goldstone to investigate alleged violations of international law during the conflict. | Earlier this month, the United Nations appointed former war crimes prosecutor Richard Goldstone to investigate alleged violations of international law during the conflict. |
| 'Avoid harm' | 'Avoid harm' |
| The Israeli military said its report was based on the findings of five investigative teams assigned to probe its soldiers' conduct. | The Israeli military said its report was based on the findings of five investigative teams assigned to probe its soldiers' conduct. |
| The investigations showed that throughout the fighting in Gaza, the IDF operated in accordance with international law Israeli military report Gaza conflict: Who is a civilian? Who can probe 'war crimes'? Israel disputes Gaza death rates | The investigations showed that throughout the fighting in Gaza, the IDF operated in accordance with international law Israeli military report Gaza conflict: Who is a civilian? Who can probe 'war crimes'? Israel disputes Gaza death rates |
| The Israeli military "operated in accordance with moral values and international laws of war", it said in a statement. | The Israeli military "operated in accordance with moral values and international laws of war", it said in a statement. |
| The military "made an enormous effort to focus its fire only against the terrorists whilst doing the utmost to avoid harming uninvolved civilians", it said. | The military "made an enormous effort to focus its fire only against the terrorists whilst doing the utmost to avoid harming uninvolved civilians", it said. |
| Troops faced moral dilemmas operating against an enemy "that hides and operates under a civilian cover", it added. | Troops faced moral dilemmas operating against an enemy "that hides and operates under a civilian cover", it added. |
| A small number of incidents occurred in which intelligence or operational mistakes were made. | |
| One such incident was an air strike in which 21 members of the same family were killed when their house was mistaken for a weapons' storage facility, it said. | |
| "These unfortunate incidents were unavoidable and occur in all combat situations, in particular of the type which Hamas forced on the IDF [Israeli Defence Force], by choosing to fight from within the civilian population," the military said. | |
| It is not yet clear whether Israel will co-operate with the UN probe. | It is not yet clear whether Israel will co-operate with the UN probe. |
| Mr Goldstone and his team - which includes experts from Pakistan, Britain and Ireland - have been asked to investigate "all violations of international humanitarian law" before, during and after the Israeli campaign. | Mr Goldstone and his team - which includes experts from Pakistan, Britain and Ireland - have been asked to investigate "all violations of international humanitarian law" before, during and after the Israeli campaign. |
| They are due to begin work in the region within weeks, the UN says. | They are due to begin work in the region within weeks, the UN says. |
| Both sides in the conflict are accused of the indiscriminate use of force in densely-populated areas. | Both sides in the conflict are accused of the indiscriminate use of force in densely-populated areas. |
| Rights groups also say they have evidence that Israel used white phosphorous - a chemical agent that causes burns - in densely-populated areas. | |
| White phosphorous is legal for use on open ground but its use in built-up areas where civilians are found is banned under international conventions. |