Soldiers during Operation Cast Lead. Archive Photo: IDF Spokesperson

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The IDF immediately began investigating itself upon completion of Operation Cast Lead, with no relation to the Goldstone Committee or any other committee, according to the Israeli response to the Goldstone Report which was delivered to the United Nations this past Friday (Jan. 29). The Israeli response to the Goldstone Report was written by Minister of Foreign Affairs personnel, in cooperation with the Chief Military Advocate, Maj. Gen. Avichai Mandelblit. Within the framework of the independent investigation, it was found an officer at the rank of Brigadier General and an officer at the rank of Colonel were guilty of overstepping their authority.

The two officers were found guilty of an incident which took place two days before the end of the operation on January 15. The incident involved the two officers deciding to use artillery in a populated area. The shells were fired in the area of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNARWA) headquarters, in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City. Following the independent investigation in the IDF which occurred eight months ago, the officers were reprimanded by the Commander of the Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Yoav Glant.  Using artillery in a densley populated area is not a breach of international law, but in deciding to do so the officers overstepped their authority within the internal IDF chain of command and that was the cause for reprimand. There are no known casualties from this incident.

Six Independent Investigatory Committees

Upon completion of Operation Cast Lead, and under orders from the Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, five investigatory committees were established, each headed by officers at the rank of Colonel. The committees investigated complaints which were filed against the IDF, using all of the different means, during and after the operation. At the end of April 2009, the former Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Maj. Gen. Dan Harel submitted the findings of the five committees.

In addition to the establishment of the five committees, the Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi commanded the establishment of a sixth investigatory committee, upon recommendation of the Chief Military Advocate General, Maj. Gen. Avichai Mendelblit. The sixth committee is expected to examine two additional incidents which were presented in the Goldstone Report. It has been claimed that in one case 20 civilians were killed in the Zeitun neighborhood as a result of an IDF-caused explosion.

Approximately 500 Soldiers and Officers will be Investigated

The investigatory committees are examining incidents which were the exception to the rule during Operation Cast Lead at the same time that the Military Police is investigating about 150 different claims of inappropriate behavior. In these incidents, allegedly, unsuitable behavior of IDF soldiers towards Palestinian civilians and property is being examined. 12 cases like these were mentioned in the Goldstone Report, and the majority of incidents were discovered during independent IDF operational investigations or on behalf of human rights organizations or private civilians. Approximately 500 soldiers and officers and close to 100 Palestinian civilians will be investigated by the Military Investigation Forces. As of now 36 criminal investigations are being executed.

While speaking about the Goldstone Report, the Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Benny Gantz said yesterday (Jan. 31) that “The Goldstone Report is a Trojan horse. It gives terrorist organizations legitimacy to fight us from urban populations." He added, “Israel must respond and investigate the report, for the clear purpose of the military-political aspect, and not out of guilt placed on us from outside sources. Our moral strength is undoubted,” he said.