The Israeli army claims it is conducting self-investigations. How far have these investigations progressed? – WWLP

JERUSALEM (AP) — During its seven-month, bitter war against Hamas, Israel has pledged to investigate a series of deadly incidents in which its forces are suspected of wrongdoing. The commitment comes amid growing allegations — from human rights groups and the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor — that Israeli leaders are committing war crimes in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

In one of the most high-profile cases, an attack on a World Central Kitchen convoy that killed five foreign aid workers, the Israeli army promptly published its findings, admitted wrongdoing by its forces, and dismissed two soldiers. But other investigations are ongoing, and admissions of guilt are rare.

Israel’s military lawyer, Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, said this week that the military is investigating about 70 cases of alleged misconduct. She gave few details. The military declined to disclose the full list of investigations and told the AP it could only respond to requests for comment on specific investigations.

A look at some of the investigations that have been publicly announced:

DEADLY ATTACK ON A TENT CAMP KILLS DISPLACED FAMILIES

On Tuesday, Israel announced the preliminary results of an investigation into a deadly attack on a tent camp for displaced families in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Sunday’s attack killed at least 45 people and caused widespread destruction. Most of the victims were women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between the deaths of civilians and Hamas fighters.

The military’s chief spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said a preliminary investigation had shown that Israeli ammunition used that day in efforts to eliminate two Hamas fighters was too small to serve as a source of fire.

Hagari said the destruction could have been caused by secondary explosions, possibly from weapons carried by Palestinian militants in the area. Hamas did not respond to that statement, but a member of the militants’ political bureau noted on Tuesday that Israel “believes it is deceiving the world with its false claim that it did not intend to kill and burn children and women, and with its claim to be investigating its crimes.”

The Israeli military said in a statement that the investigation had been handed over to an investigative commission that operates independently and outside the army’s chain of command. The findings will then be handed over to the military’s attorney general, who will decide whether to take disciplinary action. It is unclear how long the investigation will take.

Dozens of civilians are shot around a flour convoy

In March, witnesses reported that Israeli soldiers fired on a crowd of Palestinians waiting for aid in Gaza. At least 104 people were killed and 760 injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The massacre was described as a massacre.

The Israeli military immediately released preliminary findings of the investigation. It said huge crowds attempted to steal supplies at dawn from a convoy of 30 army trucks carrying flour toward the hard-hit northern Gaza Strip. The army said a stampede killed dozens of Palestinians, some run over by the trucks as the drivers tried to flee. The army said its troops fired only when they felt threatened by the crowds.

The military said the case would also be investigated by the investigative commission.

Explosion at Al-Ahli Hospital triggers deadly inferno

An explosion in October in the courtyard of Al-Ahli Hospital, where thousands of Palestinians had sought shelter or medical treatment, sparked an inferno that burned men, women and children alive.

There are still conflicting claims about what happened.

Officials in Gaza immediately said an Israeli airstrike had hit the hospital, killing at least 500 people. Images of the aftermath sparked protests across the region.

Within hours, Israeli authorities said they had launched an investigation and determined they had no involvement. They released live video and audio footage and other evidence showing that the explosion was caused by a misfired rocket fired by Islamic Jihad, another Palestinian militant group.

Islamic Jihad denies responsibility.

An AP investigation and assessments by U.S. and French intelligence agencies concluded that the explosion was probably caused by a misfired missile.

A Palestinian is shot while walking with others

In January, the Israeli government announced that it was investigating the death of a Palestinian who was shot while walking with four others.

Video footage shows one of the men holding up a white flag – the international symbol of surrender – and the others behind him raising their hands in the air, then running backwards as several shots are fired.

In a second clip, one of the men is lying on the ground. The gunman is not seen in the video, but before the shots are fired, the camera pans to show what appears to be an Israeli tank positioned nearby. Ahmed Hijazi, a citizen journalist who filmed the incident, told the Associated Press that an Israeli tank fired at the group.

The army said it had conducted a thorough investigation and determined that the tank did not fire at the men. It also said it was “not possible to determine with certainty” whether the man was killed by Israeli fire.

FOUR PALESTINIANS ARE SHOT ON A FIELD ROAD

On March 22, the Israeli military launched an investigation after footage emerged that appeared to show the bombing of five Palestinians near the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

Aerial footage circulating on social media shows four men walking along a dirt road before being struck by an attack that kills all four instantly. Another man further down the road tries to flee before being struck and killed. The origin of the footage remains unclear.

The military said the investigation had been handed over to an independent commission of inquiry.

A SURGEON FROM GAZA DIES IN AN ISRAELI PRISON

According to the United Nations, famous Gaza surgeon Adnan al-Bursh died in an Israeli prison after being arrested in a raid on Al Awda Hospital in mid-April.

Bursh headed the orthopedic department at Al-Shifa Hospital. At the time of his arrest in December, he was reportedly in good health and operating on patients, the UN said.

But those who saw Bursh in custody said he appeared exhausted and bore signs of violence, according to Physicians for Human Rights in Israel. Israel’s military and police did not respond to requests for comment.

Palestinian prisoners who have returned from Israeli custody have reported beatings, harsh interrogations and neglect in Israeli custody. Israel has denied the reports. Bursh was transferred to the Israeli military prison of Ofer in the West Bank, where he died.

Israeli police will conduct an autopsy on Bursh’s body, with a doctor from Physicians for Human Rights-Israel present, the group said, noting that it had filed a petition on behalf of Bursh’s family. It is unclear when the autopsy will be performed, and authorities have not released any information on the cause of death.