Israeli military investigations into deaths in Gaza: 57 cases without charges
Despite numerous investigations into deaths and abuses in detention facilities, no soldier has been formally charged, raising doubts about the effectiveness of the investigations
The Israeli Defence Forces have opened 57 criminal investigations into the deaths of Gaza residents and a Lebanese detainee in military custody during the war, but none have led to an indictment, despite the fact that most of the deaths occurred within military detention facilities equipped with CCTV cameras and where potential witnesses were present, reports Haaretz.
Of the 57 investigations, seven cases involved prisoners who had been shot dead. According to the Israeli newspaper, the army was unable to identify the suspects in most of the cases.
According to data obtained by Hatzlacha – an organisation that states its commitment to promoting a just society in Israel – through freedom of information requests, a further 19 investigations have been opened into alleged beatings, acts of violence or ‘unlawful use of force’, but only two charges have been brought.
One case led to the conviction of a lorry driver who was transporting prisoners to the Sde Teiman detention centre, whilst the other, involving several soldiers from Force 100 – a reserve unit of the military police tasked with guarding suspected terrorists at the Sde Teiman base – for alleged abuse of a detainee from Gaza, was subsequently dropped after the complainant was repatriated to Gaza before he could give evidence in court.
The article also notes that most investigations into alleged looting committed by Israeli troops in Gaza and Lebanon have been closed without any charges being brought. Only one charge of looting has led to a conviction, whilst another was brought in connection with the seizure of three motorbikes in Gaza. Cases involving soldiers taking household appliances are reported to have been dealt with through disciplinary rather than criminal proceedings.
