Israel changes policy for investigating West Bank incidents involving Palestinian casualties

Israel changes policy for investigating West Bank incidents involving Palestinian casualties

2011-04-06 21:46:14 GMT+7 (ICT)

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BNO NEWS) -- Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday announced a new investigation policy for incidents in the West Bank involving Palestinian casualties due to Israeli fire.

IDF Military Advocate General, Maj. Gen. Avichai Mandelblit, decided to make changes to the investigation policy which had been in place since 2000. The changes were notified to the Israeli Supreme Court.

The new policy will require that every case in which Palestinians are killed by IDF operatives to be investigated immediately by the Criminal Investigation Division unless the incident took place during a combat or fire exchange.

Under the old policy, an investigation was initiated in the Criminal Investigations Division of the IDF Military Police Corp after a fact-gathering inquiry conducted on the site.

However, the new policy will not apply to incidents which occurred in the Gaza Strip, where IDF activity entails clear elements of combat. The decision was made by Maj. Gen. Mandelblit and Israel's Attorney General.

In October 2000, the Military Advocate General decided that a criminal investigation into IDF activity would only be opened in instances where a criminal offense was suspected.

In the Gaza Strip, Palestinian militants constantly launch rocket attacks on southern Israeli communities. Overall, terrorist groups launched 38 rockets and 87 mortar shells from the Gaza Strip. The total 128 attacks in March were the highest of the year compared to 61 in February and 83 in January.

IDF holds the Hamas terrorist organization solely responsible for any terrorist activity emanating from the Gaza Strip. In March, Israel deployed the Iron Dome missile defense system to protect Israel's southern communities from rocket threats coming from the Gaza Strip.

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