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Israeli Soldier Faces Charges Stemming from Gaza Incursion

   VOA News 06 July 2010
   Israeli  soldiers  drive  in  tanks near Israel's border with the Gaza
   Strip, in southern Israel, 28 Dec 2008

Photo: AP

   Israeli  soldiers  drive  in  tanks near Israel's border with the Gaza
   Strip, in southern Israel, 28 Dec 2008

   Israel's   chief  military  prosecutor  has  charged  a  soldier  with
   manslaughter  for  his  role in the shooting deaths of two Palestinian
   women  during  Israel's  three-week  incursion into Gaza that began in
   December 2008.
   The  army  released  a  statement,  Tuesday,  saying Military Advocate
   General  Avihai  Mandelblit  decided  to take legal action against the
   soldier  following  witness  reports  that the two women were carrying
   white flags when they were shot.
   The  statement says the prosecutor also announced at least one Israeli
   officer  would be disciplined after soldiers used a Palestinian man as
   a "human shield."
   The  decisions  were  part  of an inquiry into more than 150 incidents
   during  the  Gaze  offensive  that resulted in the deaths of more than
   1,300  Palestinians  and  13  Israelis.   Israeli  media  reports say
   several  other  Israeli  soldiers  are  also  under  investigation for
   alleged  misconduct  during  the  Gaza  operation.    Israel said it
   launched the offensive to stop Palestinian rocket attacks.
   After the Gaza incursion, an investigate panel appointed by the United
   Nations  issued  a report that alleged both Israel and the Palestinian
   group  Hamas committed war crimes and possible crimes against humanity
   during the conflict.
   In  late  February,  the  U.N.  gave  both  sides  five more months to
   investigate war crimes allegations.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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