Israel's Knesset To Probe Gaza War Decisions

Israel's Knesset (parliament) has launched an investigation into decisions taken by the government and the security cabinet during a recent seven-week military offensive on the Gaza Strip.



In a Wednesday statement, chairman of the Knesset's State Control Committee Amnon Cohen has ordered State Controller Yosef Shapira to investigate the decision-making process by both the government and the security cabinet before and during "Operation Protective Edge" with emphasis on preparedness to threats posed by Gaza's underground tunnels.



During a panel meeting attended by Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, Cohen said the government and the security cabinet were fully aware about the threats posed to Israel by Gaza's tunnels.



Shapira, for his part, said that he was preparing a special report about the issue, to be released in a few months, according to the statement.



Ya'alon had previously accused some of the security cabinet members of making illegal contacts with field army commanders to collect sensitive information during the war on Gaza.



The Israeli Defense Minister, according to Israel's Channel 1, said on Tuesday that ministers were banned from getting information from army officers about the operation.



The 51-day war on Gaza came to an end on August 26 under an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Palestinian factions and Israel.



Around 2,157 Palestinians were killed – mostly civilians – and nearly 11,000 others injured in the deadly Israeli offensive.



Palestinian factions and Israel are scheduled to return to the Egyptian capital soon to resume their cease-fire negotiations.



By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout



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