If there was any doubt in the minds of some, the release of the Operation Cast Lead report today, Wednesday, by Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Dan Harel provides yet additional proof as to the integrity and high moral standard maintained by the IDF.

Not attempting to hide the truth, the report documents that as is the case in wartime, mistakes occurred. Just as some of the unfortunate mistaken fire incidents claimed the lives of IDF personnel, leaving others injured, the report states the same occurred in limited instances pertaining to Gaza civilians.

Harel gave total and absolute support to the military’s performance in the counter-terror offensive, citing the number of such mistaken incidents was small.

To remove any shadow of doubt regarding the report, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gabi Ashkenazi appointed five independent teams to conduct simultaneous investigations into the operations involving all branches of the military, including the navy and air force, as well as major units such as the Southern and Homefront Commands.

The report addressed the condemnatory statements from the international community pertaining to the deployment of phosphorus bombs, admitting their use as the IDF did during the war, and reiterating as it did months ago that the bombs were deployed in total adherence to international dictates despite allegations to the contrary. Once the international condemnation grew too strong, their use was halted on 7 January.

The most costly mistake, which occurred on day six of the operation in the Zeitoun area of Gaza, deals with the shelling of a home. Mistaken coordinates resulted in a civilian home to be shelled, resulting in the deaths of 21 people, all from one family. The report does add that while the error and its tragic outcome is indeed painful, it is the direct result of Hamas terrorists basing themselves in the heart of civilian population centers, resulting in urban warfare under the harshest of conditions.

The report also addresses the allegations of the IDF targeting an UNRWA school in Jabalya. Gazan sources reported to the world media that 40 people were killed but the IDF investigation revealed the number was actually 12-17 deaths. Five of the deaths were Hamas terrorists and the investigation concluded conclusively that school building was not hit as claimed by Hamas leaders.

Perhaps most alarming aspect is the reference to the fact that Hamas leaders and terrorists continue to use civilians as human shields, defying the very basic tenets of acceptable warfare. Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah set up his base of operations in Shifa Hospital; well-aware Israel was unlikely to bomb a hospital, even at the price of permitting him to emerge unscathed from the war. As was reported during the war, there is documentation as to the horrors perpetrated against medical staff and patients alike by Hamas gunmen.

The report states conclusively that 709 out of the 1,167 Gaza fatalities were Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists, while only 295 were civilians. PA figures present an entirely different picture.

“There was not a single case in which an IDF soldier intentionally injured a civilian,” stated Harel. This in apparent response to the baseless allegations made by students of the Yitzchak Rabin pre-IDF course affiliated with Oranim Academic College (reported HERE on YWN) who stated they witnessed intentional acts in which IDF soldiers acted immorally. Their blasphemous allegations has long been proven without foundation, and senior military commanders and Defense Minister Ehud Barak continue to proudly boast the IDF remains the most moral army in the world.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)