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Israelis 'followed law in Gaza' Israelis 'followed law in Gaza'
(about 2 hours 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 internal investigations have 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. A small number of errors did take place, it admits, such as the deaths of 21 people in a wrongly targeted house, but these were "unavoidable".
A small number of intelligence or operational errors did take place but these were unavoidable, it said. The military said Gaza militants had used civilian sites for cover.
Israel has faced criticism since the three-week conflict ended in January over the high level of civilian deaths. Rights group have raised concerns about war crimes and say a wider, external investigation is needed.
Israel faced widespread accusations of operating in a disproportionate and heavy-handed way during three-week conflict in January.
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. The five investigations looked into some of the most controversial incidents and allegations from the war, including the firing of artillery shells near a UN-run school on 6 January.
'Avoid harm' The UN has said about 42 people were killed but Israeli military investigators said only 12 people died, five of whom they described as "terror operatives".
The Israeli military said its report was based on the findings of five investigative teams assigned to probe its soldiers' conduct. Of the attack on the house of a Palestinian doctor, Izzeldeen Abuelaish, which killed three of his daughters, the military said soldiers had been targeting "suspicious figures" in the building and had urged the family to leave days earlier.
The Israeli military said its controversial use of white phosphorus, which causes severe burns, was fully legal.
Investigators said no phosphorus weapons were used in built-up areas, in direct contradiction of groups such as Human Rights Watch, who said they were used unlawfully in densely-populated areas.
The military said it had probed seven incidents in which civilians were reportedly harmed - although many more such incidents have been documented by human rights organisations.
In one of these, military officials said 21 people died when a house was hit, instead of a weapons store - and a warning phone call had been made to the wrong building beforehand.
The investigators said that Hamas "systematically used medical facilities, vehicles and uniforms as cover for terrorist operations," and that the group's military and political leaders operated from Gaza's main hospital.
Troops maintained "a high professional" level against "an enemy that aimed to terrorise Israeli civilians", the military said.
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 ratesThe 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, and made "an enormous effort" to avoid harming uninvolved civilians.The Israeli military "operated in accordance with moral values and international laws of war", it said in a statement, and made "an enormous effort" to avoid harming uninvolved civilians.
A small number of incidents occurred in which intelligence or operational mistakes were made. A small number of incidents occurred in which intelligence or operational mistakes were made, the military 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. "These unfortunate incidents were unavoidable and occur in all combat situations, in particular of the type which Hamas forced on the IDF [Israeli Defence Forces], by choosing to fight from within the civilian population," the military said.
The Israeli military also gave its findings on several of the most controversial incidents during the war, including the firing of artillery shells near a UN-run school on 6 January.
The UN said about 42 people were killed but Israeli military investigators found only 12 people had died, five of whom they said were "terror operatives".
Of the attack on the house of a Palestinian doctor, Izzeldeen Abuelaish, which killed three of his daughters, the military said soldiers had been targeting "suspicious figures" in the building and had urged the family to leave days earlier.
UN probeUN probe
It is not yet clear whether Israel will co-operate with the UN probe. A group of 10 Israeli human rights organisations took issue with the findings.
"Data collected by Israeli human rights organization shows that many civilians were killed in Gaza not due to 'mishaps' but as a direct result of the military's chosen policy," they said in a statement.
The groups called for an external, extra-military investigation, and called on Israel to cooperate with the United Nations investigation.
Earlier this month, the UN appointed former war crimes prosecutor Richard Goldstone to investigate alleged violations of international law during the conflict.
It is not yet clear whether Israel will cooperate 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.
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.