The statement was released in wake of an Israeli response to a United
Nations report that accused Israel of targeting Palestinian civilians in the
Gaza Strip. The Israeli response, delivered to the UN on Jan. 29, reported
the prosecution of Brig. Gen. Eyal Eisenberg and Col. Ilan Malka on charges
of ordering artillery fire near the UN Relief and Works Agency headquarters
in Gaza City on Jan. 15, 2009. There were no reports of casualties during
the shelling.
"The officers were punished severely by the commander of the Southern
Command, Maj. Gen. Yoav Glant, even though there were no known casualties
from this incident," the military said.
Eisenberg has been commander of the Israel Army's Gaza Division. Malka
was head of the army's Givati Brigade. Both men had been charged with
ordering the firing of white phosphorous munitions toward a civilian area in
which three people were injured. The shelling took place during a clash with
a Hamas anti-tank squad.
"Military police is investigating about 150 different claims of
inappropriate behavior," the military said. "About 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 proceeding."
Officials said the investigations were focusing on allegations made in
the UN report by Richard Goldstone. They included Palestinian claims that 20
civilians were killed in Gaza City in an explosion blamed on the Israeli
military.
"The Goldstone report is a Trojan horse," Israeli Deputy Chief of Staff
Maj. Gen. Benny Gantz said. "It gives terrorist organizations legitimacy to
fight us from urban areas."
The military findings contradicted an earlier report in April 2009. At
the time, a panel appointed by then-Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Dan
Harel determined that phosphorous shells were fired only toward open areas
of the Gaza Strip.
"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," Gantz said.
