The Israel Defense Forces has released the conclusions of a preliminary investigation into the death of border police officer Barel Hadaria Shmueli, who was shot Aug. 21 during violent clashes that occurred along the border fence with Gaza. The investigation concluded that battle orders and operational preparedness for dealing with demonstrations along the Gaza border were "thorough and comprehensive," and that open-fire policies did not change before or during the incident. Nevertheless, it also determined that the IDF should have deployed its troops and changed its use of force as soon as the mass of demonstrators reached the separation fence. No steps will be taken against the officers involved in the deadly incident.
Around the time the results of the investigation were released on Sept. 3, the head of the Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Eliezer Toledano, paid a condolence call to the soldier’s bereaved family and presented them with these findings. They said that they will not accept “the findings, the conclusions, or the bottom line that no measures will be taken by the high command against any officer whatsoever.”
