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Israeli Report Backs Tactics by Military in Gaza War Israeli Report Backs Tactics by Military in Gaza War
(about 3 hours later)
JERUSALEM — With a United Nations commission expected to soon release its report on last summer’s war between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military late Thursday issued an update on its internal inquiries, saying neither Israeli nor international laws were broken in several attacks that led to civilian deaths.JERUSALEM — With a United Nations commission expected to soon release its report on last summer’s war between Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military late Thursday issued an update on its internal inquiries, saying neither Israeli nor international laws were broken in several attacks that led to civilian deaths.
The report by the Military Advocate General said that no criminal charges or disciplinary action would be taken against those involved in airstrikes that killed four young cousins as they played on a Gaza City beachfront, an episode that spurred worldwide condemnation. Also closed were cases involving an attack on Gaza’s Al-Salam building that killed 15 people and one that killed at least eight members of the Najjar family in their home in the Gaza city of Khan Younis, saying that both were aimed at “lawful” targets — militant commanders — and that efforts had been made to limit collateral damage. The report by the Military Advocate General said that no criminal charges would be made or disciplinary action taken against those involved in airstrikes that killed four young cousins as they played on a Gaza City beachfront, an episode that spurred worldwide condemnation. Also closed were cases involving an attack on Gaza’s Al-Salam building that killed 15 people and one that killed at least eight members of the Najjar family in their home in the Gaza city of Khan Younis, saying that both were aimed at “lawful” targets — militant commanders — and that efforts had been made to limit collateral damage.
The military did announce the indictments of three soldiers in connection with looting the equivalent of $633 from a home where they were camped during ground operations, and the opening of two criminal investigations, one regarding the alleged abuse of a Gaza resident by Israeli forces, and the other concerning the firing of tank shells at a medical clinic.The military did announce the indictments of three soldiers in connection with looting the equivalent of $633 from a home where they were camped during ground operations, and the opening of two criminal investigations, one regarding the alleged abuse of a Gaza resident by Israeli forces, and the other concerning the firing of tank shells at a medical clinic.
The report, sent to journalists after 9:30 p.m., came amid rumors that the United Nations Human Rights Council would publish as soon as Friday its much-anticipated report on rights violations and war crimes during the bloody 50-day conflict.The report, sent to journalists after 9:30 p.m., came amid rumors that the United Nations Human Rights Council would publish as soon as Friday its much-anticipated report on rights violations and war crimes during the bloody 50-day conflict.
It was the latest in a series of detailed summaries of Israeli military inquiries, part of an aggressive effort to counter expected criticism by the commission as well as advocacy groups. It was the latest in a series of detailed summaries of Israeli military inquiries, part of an aggressive effort to counter expected criticism by the commission as well as by advocacy groups.
The investigations are also a defense against potential charges of Israeli soldiers in the International Criminal Court. With the Palestinians joining the court this spring, its chief prosecutor began a preliminary examination of the situation in the Palestinian territories, including the latest conflict in Gaza, but the court generally only pursues cases in places that are unwilling or unable to mete out justice themselves. The investigations are also a defense against potential charges of Israeli soldiers in the International Criminal Court. With the Palestinians joining the court this spring, its chief prosecutor began a preliminary examination of the situation in the Palestinian territories, including the latest conflict in Gaza, but the court generally pursues cases only in places that are unwilling or unable to mete out justice themselves.
The latest military report ran 12 pages, and said the military had so far examined 105 episodes based on news accounts or complaints from advocacy groups, with another 85 pending. It emphasized its detailed investigative work in several of the prominent cases it was closing. The latest military report ran 12 pages and said the military had so far examined 105 episodes based on news accounts or complaints from advocacy groups, with 85 more pending. It emphasized its detailed investigative work in several of the prominent cases it was closing.
Regarding the four boys killed on the beach last July 16, for example, the report said that “testimony was collected from a large number” of soldiers and officers “involved in the planning and execution of the attack,” alongside a review of “an extensive number of documents” and “video footage.” The military also “made efforts to collect the testimonies” of Gazan witnesses, the report said, but “regretfully,” they declined to be interviewed.Regarding the four boys killed on the beach last July 16, for example, the report said that “testimony was collected from a large number” of soldiers and officers “involved in the planning and execution of the attack,” alongside a review of “an extensive number of documents” and “video footage.” The military also “made efforts to collect the testimonies” of Gazan witnesses, the report said, but “regretfully,” they declined to be interviewed.
The military said the airstrike targeted a compound where naval forces linked to Hamas, the Islamist group that dominates Gaza, had gathered to prepare for “military activity” and that a container of military supplies inside it had been hit by Israel the day before the deadly attack. The military said that the airstrike targeted a compound where naval forces linked to Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, had gathered to prepare for “military activity” and that a container of military supplies inside had been hit by Israel a day before the deadly attack.
“Aerial surveillance identified a number of figures entering the compound at a running pace,” the report says. “It should be stressed that the figures were not identified at any point during the incident as children.” It later uses the word “tragically” to describe the outcome, and says “it would not have been possible for the operational entities involved to have identified these figures, via aerial surveillance, as children.” “Aerial surveillance identified a number of figures entering the compound at a running pace,” the report says. “It should be stressed that the figures were not identified at any point during the incident as children.” It later uses the word “tragically” to describe the outcome and says “it would not have been possible for the operational entities involved to have identified these figures, via aerial surveillance, as children.”
The intense battle, in which nearly 2,200 Gaza residents were killed along with 72 people on the Israeli side, has already been the subject of numerous reviews, by local and outside groups. Amnesty International said Israel showed “callous indifference” to the lives of civilians in attacks on family homes like the Najjars’, saying that even where there were legitimate military targets the strikes were grossly disproportionate; it later accused Hamas of a “flagrant disregard for the lives of civilians.”The intense battle, in which nearly 2,200 Gaza residents were killed along with 72 people on the Israeli side, has already been the subject of numerous reviews, by local and outside groups. Amnesty International said Israel showed “callous indifference” to the lives of civilians in attacks on family homes like the Najjars’, saying that even where there were legitimate military targets the strikes were grossly disproportionate; it later accused Hamas of a “flagrant disregard for the lives of civilians.”
Yet the forthcoming report carries the imprimatur of the United Nations, lending it more weight.Yet the forthcoming report carries the imprimatur of the United Nations, lending it more weight.
On Thursday, the Israeli military reported that a rocket was launched from Gaza into southern Israel, the third such attack in just over a week; Israel has responded with overnight airstrikes each time.On Thursday, the Israeli military reported that a rocket was launched from Gaza into southern Israel, the third such attack in just over a week; Israel has responded with overnight airstrikes each time.