Two Israeli soldiers face criminal charges for conduct in Gaza offensive
By APThursday, March 11, 2010
Israeli soldiers indicted for Gaza war conduct
JERUSALEM — The Israeli military says two soldiers have been indicted on criminal charges for their actions during last year’s military offensive in Gaza.
The soldiers will be tried in military court for forcing a Palestinian boy to open several bags they suspected to be booby trapped with explosives. The military says the soldiers did so despite military orders not to use civilians for operational activity.
Thursday’s announcement is only the second criminal indictment Israel’s military has issued regarding the three-week-long offensive.
Israel has come under fire for its wartime conduct. A team of U.N. investigators says it found evidence that both Israel and Hamas militants violated the laws of war. Both sides deny the accusations.
