Defense Minister Amir Peretz
צילום: אמיר כהן
Peretz issues tighter artillery fire rule
IDF submits findings into killing of 18 Palestinians by artillery shells in Beit Hanoun to defense minister who limits issuing of orders for artillery fire to officers of maj.-gen. rank or higher
The Israel Defense Forces submitted its findings on the killing of 18 Palestinians by artillery shells in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday to Defense Minister Amir Peretz.
Peretz ordered limited orders to fire artilleries into Gaza to command chiefs, officers ranking as maj.-gen. and above.
Peretz also ordered the army to review its artillery fire procedures.
An initial probe into the incident related the disaster to a malfunction in the artillery battery's radar.
The United Nations discussed the incident in Beit Hanoun on Thursday, with France demanding an independent investigation committee be set up to probe the circumstances.
The IDF said it never targets civilians deliberately and the fire was directed at Qassam launching pads.
