In response to the Israeli army announcement detailing some of the investigations opened into “exceptional” cases during operation Protective Edge, Israeli human rights group B’Tselem stated that based on past experience, it isn’t holding out hope that this process will lead to results other than a whitewash. B’Tselem announced that it will not assist the current military investigation mechanism, which currently amounts is nothing more than a masquerade. The organization called for the establishment of an effective, transparent and impartial mechanism.

Palestinians identify the body of a child killed in Israeli attacks, at Al Shifa Hospital, Gaza City, July 30, 2014 (Photo: Activestills)

B’Tselem and Yesh Din announced their joint conclusion that the Israeli authorities are unwilling to investigate the harm caused to Palestinians. The two leading Israeli human rights organizations in monitoring the investigations of offenses committed by security forces against Palestinians, find that after results of hundreds of investigations lead to the inevitable conclusion that the existing investigation mechanism is marred by severe structural flaws that render it incapable of conducting professional investigations. The existing apparatus is incapable of investigating policy issues or breaches of law by senior ranking military officials, and fails to promote accountability among those responsible. The figures show that the Israeli authorities are unwilling to investigate human rights violations committed by security forces against Palestinians. The failure of the Government of Israel to implement the Turkel Commission’s recommendations, more than a year and a half after their publication, only reinforces this conclusion.