IDF chief prosecutor tells left wing Yesh Gvul organization that missile strike on Islamic Jihad senior figure in which three Palestinians were killed may be checked by army
The IDF is set to investigate the death of three citizens who were killed in the last month's assassination of senior Islamic Jihad member Shadi Mahna in the Jabalya refugee camp in Gaza.
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The Yesh Gvul left wing movement has requested that the IDF investigate the incident, and a military prosecutor has indicated that the issue may be checked.
Yesh Gvul spokesman Yishai Menuhin told Ynet: "Judging from the response of the military investigators, it seems the IDF has learned from previous incidents, and is at least checking incidents in which civilians were killed, rather than closing the case immediately."
Seven Palestinians were killed in the Air Force operation in Jabalya, when a missile was fired at a vehicle carrying Mahna. The car exploded, killing Mahna and three other terrorists.
Shortly after the attack it became clear that three civilians in the vicinity were also killed. Sources in the IDF said that after the Air Force missile attack, explosive material and other weaponry in the terrorists' car exploded, causing the death of the civilians.
'Possible war crime'
A Yesh Gvul representative dispatched a letter to the IDF Chief Prosecutor Brigadier General Avi Mandelblit Avi a number of days after the operation, in which he wrote: "If it is true that unarmed civilians were killed, there seems to be a severe violation of human rights, up to the point of a possible war crime."
Menuhin asked Mandelbit for information on who ordered the attack, and asked whether an investigation would be launched by the army.
This week, the military prosecutor replied, saying that "the conditions of the operation are being checked by a relevant inquiry. After the details of the incident are checked, a decision will be taken regarding the opening of an investigation of the military prosecutor."
The Yesh Gvul organization expressed satisfaction with the IDF's answer. "I'm happy that there is a change in the approach of the military, and that it is ready to examine military operations and to discuss its conduct. This is what we have asked for in the past. We're not asking for heads to roll but to launch an inquiry, and if necessary, an investigation," said Menuhin.
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