High Court Dismisses Leftist Petition Against IDF in Gaza

The High Court unanimously rejected petitions by left-wing organizations against the IDF’s rules of engagement during the recent clashes with Palestinian rioters along the Gaza border.

The Israeli military has fended off allegations of “crimes” and international calls for an investigation of some 100 Gazan deaths due to live fire since the end of March, saying that soldiers were instructed to shoot when they were directly threatened, or when attempts were made to breach the border fence despite repeated warnings.

“The complexity of the situation stems mainly from the intermixing of terrorists with civilian population — including women and children — which also takes part in the incidents,” Chief Justice Esther Hayut said in her explanation of the decision.

“This intentional intermixing is intended to obfuscate and make it difficult to locate terrorists embedded in the masses,” she added.