The Israel Defense Forces opened criminal investigations into eight deadly incidents that occurred during its 50-day Gaza operation.
The investigations, involving the deaths of 30 Gazan Palestinians, were announced on Dec. 6 by the IDF’s Magistrate Advocate General service. Among the incidents is a July 20 airstrike on the home of the Abu Jama family in Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza, which left 27 dead. Most were believed to be civilians.
Some 13 cases are currently under investigation. About 85 incidents are under “various stages of review,” according to the IDF.
The IDF also announced that seven other cases were closed when the investigation “did not find that the forces’ actions in these reported incidents appeared to substantiate reasonable grounds for suspicion of criminal behavior.”
A fact-finding commission was established during the summer’s Gaza conflict to investigate individual incidents and decide if a criminal investigation is warranted. It also is to “assist in preventing exceptional incidents in the future,” said Maj. Gen. Danny Efroni, the army’s chief military advocate general, who appointed the fact-finding commission.
More than 2,100 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza operation, according to figures furnished by Gaza institutions that said most of the victims were civilians. Some 67 Israeli soldiers and six civilians in Israel were killed. — jta