One unidentified officer was indicted on charges of ordering an air
strike on a Hamas rocket launcher and crew outside a Gaza City mosque.
Several people in the mosque were said to have been injured by shrapnel from
the Israeli air-to-ground missile.
"The investigation also showed that the officer who ordered the attack
had failed to exercise appropriate judgment," the military said. "Therefore,
the Chief of the General Staff ordered that disciplinary actions be taken
against the officer, and that he would not serve in similar positions of
command in the future."
Officials said most of the indictment concerned allegations raised by
the United Nations and non-governmental organizations during and after the
Hamas war. In September 2009, the UN released a report that accused Israel's
military of war crimes.
Another indictment concerned an Israeli air strike on the southern Gaza
City neighborhood of Zeitoun on Jan. 5, 2009. The Israeli missile was said
to have struck a home with 100 residents, and the military said an expert
has been appointed to investigate.
"After examining the findings of the investigation, Maj. Gen. Mendelblit
has ordered a Military Police criminal investigation into the circumstances
of the incident," the military said. "The findings of the criminal
investigation will be passed on to the Military Advocate General with its
conclusion."
The most serious charge against the Israeli soldiers was that of
manslaughter. A sergeant was accused of firing toward women, some of whom
were carrying white flags, killing two of them.
The military said an investigation into the Jan. 4, 2009 shooting in
Gaza City had been hampered by contradictory testimony by Israeli soldiers
and Palestinians. Finally, Mendelblit determined that the sergeant
"deliberately targeted an individual walking with a group of people waving a white flag
without being ordered or authorized to do so."
The highest ranking officer indicted was that of a battalion commander,
who usually holds the rank of lieutenant colonel. The commander was said to
have ordered a Palestinian owner to enter his home and request that
Palestinian fighters leave before the army blew up the building.
"The Military Advocate General indicted the battalion commander because
he deviated from authorized and appropriate IDF behavior, and the Israeli
Supreme Court jurisdiction regarding the use of civilians during operational
activity, when he authorized the Palestinian's request to enter the house,"
the military said.
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