Israel to investigate killings of further 8 Palestinians in Gaza protests

Israeli authorities have announced new investigations into the killings of eight Palestinians during Great March of Return protests in the occupied Gaza Strip, reported Haaretz.

Israeli investigations into the killings of Palestinians by its armed forces have been denounced by Palestinian, Israeli and international rights experts as a whitewashing exercise.

According to the report, Military Advocate General Brig. Gen. Sharon Afek “has instructed the Military Police to open criminal investigations into the deaths of eight Palestinians in three incidents” that occurred last year during the Gaza protests.

Three criminal investigations are already open into the deaths of paramedic Razan Al-Najjar, ‘Abd al-Nabi and Othman Halas, Haaretz added.

“Of the eight Palestinians whose deaths will now be probed, three were killed March 30, during the first of what became weekly protests along the border. Three died in the eastern Gaza Strip on April 20, while two were killed on May 15,” the paper stated.

READ: Israel investigating 11 Palestinian deaths in Gaza protests

Last month, a United Nations Commission of Inquiry found that Israeli forces had deliberately targeted unarmed civilian demonstrators, killing and maiming Palestinians who posed no threat.

The commission’s findings were rejected by the Israeli government, who condemned the inquiry as a product of “hypocrisy” and “obsessive hatred for Israel”.

Yesterday, Israeli officials renewed their public relations offensive against the UN report, claiming that investigators “ignored key evidence”.

Palestinians along the Gaza-Israel border reaffirm the ‘Right of Return’ and get shot by IOF – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]