Israel reprimands two officers to avoid war crimes probe

THE Israeli military said yesterday it has reprimanded two high-ranking officers for approving the firing of artillery shells toward a UN compound during the Gaza Strip war last year – the first admission of any high-level wrongdoing during the offensive.

Israel announced the punishment in a document submitted to the United Nations in response to a UN report accusing Israel’s military of committing war crimes, including the use of white phosphorus, an incendiary munition.

Israel is trying to avoid the threat of war crimes proceedings if it does not carry out an independent investigation into the military’s conduct during the fighting. There was no immediate comment from UN officials.