B'Tselem: IDF probes alleged cases of harm to civilians in Gaza

[bemildred]

The Israel Defense Forces criminal investigation division is examining 21 cases where soldiers are suspected of inflicting harm on Palestinian civilians during Operation Cast Lead, writes the Israeli rights group B'Tselem in a report.

According to the report, not one of the investigations has developed enough as to require an official indictment.

The report writes that six cases have been opened to investigation thus far, where soldiers allegedly fired at civilians who waved a white flag, resulting in the killing of nine people including two minors. B'tselem also reports investigations regarding four cases of IDF soldiers using Palestinians as human shields.

In the report, the rights organization harshly criticizes the IDF's investigation method, but simultaneously claims it will do everything in its power to aid the success of the investigations. "As of now there are only investigations regarding specific events, and there isn't one investigation regarding the operation's general policies or regarding decisions made by government officials," the organization writes in the report.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1125802.html

[azurnoir]

1. IDF is using careful painstaking methods that take time

4.11.09: B'Tselem: Military's investigations into Operation Cast Lead focus on individual soldiers, not unlawful policies

Military Police investigations involving Operation Cast Lead
According to the Israeli Judge Advocate General’s Office, since Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza, the Military Police Investigation Unit (MPIU) has opened 23 investigations into incidents that took place during the operation.

To the best of B'Tselem’s knowledge, MPIU Southern District is currently investigating 21 cases of harm allegedly caused to Palestinians during the operation. Of these, 13 follow complaints made by human rights organizations B'Tselem, al-Mezan, and Human Rights Watch. MPIU and the Judge Advocate General’s Office refused to provide B'Tselem with a complete list of the cases being investigated. However, since MPIU has turned to human rights organizations for assistance in coordinating the witnesses’ arrival at meetings with the investigators, B'Tselem has been able to compile the following list of cases into which investigations were opened.

http://www.btselem.org/English/Gaza_Strip/20091104_IMP_...

[Jefferson23]

2. What a non-shocker,

"Third, officials in the Judge Advocate General’s Office, who will ultimately decide the fate of the investigations, were personally involved in setting military policy during the operation and also approved certain actions. Such involvement will make it hard for them to make an impartial determination, based on the facts, as to the claims."

[Scurrilous]

3. IDF to Palestinians: Bring forth Gaza war complaints

<snip>

"The top commander of the Israel Defense Forces said on Tuesday that the army was carrying out numerous investigations into the Gaza Strip, and was willing to look into any complaint of misconduct on the part of its soldiers.

"The (Goldstone) report and the claims that came out of it necessitate some sort of response," said IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, of a UN-commissioned report that accuses both Israel and Hamas of carrying out war crimes during the offensive in the Gaza Strip earlier this year.

"The report accuses the Israeli government of acting against the civilian population and of punishing activities. I have personally appointed five investigative committees, and we have found mistakes," he added.

The IDF chief said that the army was open to probing any complaint whatsoever regarding the offensive, adding, "I do not command an army of criminal, plunderers and rapists."

"Our criminal investigation division is in the midst of checking 45 complaints," he said. "I invite all Palestinians to testify if they have complaints. As of now, 60 Palestinians have delivered their testimonies."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1127190.html

[shira]

4. Meanwhile....Hamas boobytraps Gazan homes, HRW and Goldstoners reply with yawns

http://www.goldstonereport.org/blog/2009/11/09/goldston... /

HR hypocrites and their faux concern for the human rights of Palestinians.....priceless.

[Alamuti Lotus]

5. over 5,000 Gazans killed or wounded from boobytrapped homes

Yes, how horrible. Several more were brutally assaulted with the Goldstone Report itself on this very day -- rumour has it that it can be fashioned into a club-like blunt object, but until now this shocking development had yet to be credibly confirmed. Damn that Goldstone! He must have the Jew Flu (another remarkably retarded concept -- where do these things come from? Can I make up silly nonsense about all the people I don't like also?--I have a few good ones chambered, believe you me!).

Really? You're completely serious about this crap, that's what gets me.

[shira]

6. just pointing out the hypocrisy....you're not interested in Palestinian HR's violated by Hamas

and here are more Hamas HR violations against Palestinians you and your fellow Goldstoners can continue to ignore while pretending to care about Palestinian HR's....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

you see...your concerns for Palestinian HR's can't be taken seriously when you deliberately turn a blind eye to Hamas' attempts to maximize Palestinian suffering and casualties and instead focus on irrationally demonizing Israel.

not that I'm singling you out...your faux concern is shared by almost all of your like-minded comrades whose sole motivation in all this is to bash and demonize....