IDF investigates Operation Cast Lead probes

In light of the Goldstone Report on Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli human rights organization, B'Tselem, has published details of criminal investigations that are currently being held by the IDF's Southern District Military Police Investigations Unit. Israel's Foreign Ministry has said that of the 23 incidents currently under investigation by military police, 7 are mentioned in Goldstone's report.

The Jerusalem Post reports:

This marks the first time that extensive details of criminal investigations conducted by the military police regarding events that occurred during Operation Cast Lead have been made public.

13 of them were launched as a result of complaints lodged by three human rights organizations, Human Rights Watch, Al-Mezan and B'Tselem. The organizations learned that the complaints had ripened into full-blown investigations when the Palestinian plaintiffs in these cases were summoned to give testimony before army investigators.

The government has explained that in cases of suspicions of illegal behavior by soldiers, the army begins a field investigation to collect data. The findings are sent to the Military Advocate General, who decides whether the case warrants a criminal investigation. So far, about 100 field examinations have been conducted, yielding 23 criminal investigations. In addition to these 23, one soldier has already been tried and convicted of stealing a Palestinian's credit card.