Israeli military orders criminal inquiries into Gaza incidents

Israel’s chief military prosecutor has ordered criminal investigations into two of the most high-profile incidents in the recent Gaza war – the killing of four children in an Israeli air strike at Gaza’s port and the shelling of a UN school in Beit Hanoun that left 15 people dead and scores more injured.

They are among five cases being investigated for potential criminal misconduct, while dozens more are being considered for investigation.

The beach killings on July 16th, and the attack on the UN school on July 24th – while it was being used as a shelter for refugees – sparked widespread international controversy and calls from the UN and US for a prompt investigation. While the Israel Defence Forces admits it struck the port in two air strikes, a senior officer yesterday said it was still investigating the attack on the UN school.

The announcement of the criminal inquiry by senior officers in the IDF's military attorney general's corps comes only 10 days after Israel and Hamas agreed a ceasefire to end 50 days of conflict that claimed over 2,000 lives.

The speed with which the military attorney general has launched the investigations is in marked contrast to the conflict between Hamas and Israel in 2008-2009 – Operation Cast Lead. After that conflict Israel investigated 50 incidents, with three convictions.

The announcement of the criminal investigation comes as Israel is facing pressure over the recent war, with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, threatening to refer Israel to the international criminal court.

Targeting of schools

Israel is also facing an investigation by the UN Human Rights Council and a UN inquiry into the targeting of UN schools and how Hamas weapons were stored in some.

Israel has indicated it is unwilling to co-operate with the UNHRC inquiry led by Canadian judge William Schabas, accusing it of being biased.

The two incidents are the most prominent of five cases being investigated. Those five include the case of a 17 year old arrested near the village of Khuzaa who complained of being mistreated and used as a human shield by soldiers, and an incident in which a Palestinian woman was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in Dahaniyeh, despite having co-ordinated her escape with Israeli military.

The last case involves an accusation – by an Israeli commander – that one of his troops stole money from a private house during the fighting in Shujai'iya. – (Guardian service)