Human rights groups have accused Israel of using disproportionate force and failing to protect civilians. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights has put the Palestinian death toll in Gaza at 1,434, including 960 civilians. Israeli officials say the civilian toll is inflated but have acknowledged that the army used overwhelming force in order to minimize its own casualties.
Thirteen Israelis were killed in the fighting in Gaza or by cross-border rocket fire.
The military's own inquiry includes a review of allegations of abuse made by rights groups, but it has announced no findings of wrongdoing.
Amos Harel, a military correspondent for Haaretz, suggested Thursday that the inquiry was a whitewash.
Those being queried are at the company commander level and higher, he said, and "the rule is 'you don't ask, we won't tell.' "
"The ones who finally let the dark secrets out were the soldiers in the combat units," Harel wrote. "Somewhere along the way their moral warning lights went off."
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boudreaux@latimes.com
