Israel: Report on 2014 Gaza offensive slams Netanyahu

By Anees Barghouti

JERUSALEM

A new report criticizes the Israeli Cabinet’s handling of Hamas’ tunnel threat during the 2014 Gaza offensive, singling out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and then-Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, Israeli media reported Friday.

State comptroller Yosef Shapira delivered the report on Thursday to Netanyahu and a group of 10 current and former Cabinet ministers and senior army officers who held key positions during the Gaza war.

According to Israeli daily Haaretz, the report reflects Shapira’s criticism of Netanyahu's inaction and his responsibility for a lack of operational and security preparedness.

The report paints a gloomy picture of how the Security Cabinet functioned during the conflict.

“Netanyhau failed to make Israel prepare for the threat of Hamas’ offensive tunnels during the Israeli military Operation Protective Edge,” said the report.

“On the eve of the war most of the inner Cabinet members didn’t know or understand the threat from Gaza, especially with regard to Hamas’ offensive tunnels,” it added.

In July and August of 2015, Israel carried out a weeks-long offensive against the Gaza Strip with the ostensible aim of staunching rocket fire from the blockaded coastal enclave.

Over 2,160 Palestinians, mostly civilians, were killed – and some 11,000 injured – in the onslaught, which finally ended with an August cease-fire deal.

At least 73 Israelis – 68 soldiers and five civilians – were also killed during the 51-day war.

On another front, Netanyahu is likely to be summoned for questioning by police over corruption allegations, also according to Haaretz.

“Investigators from the Israel Police national fraud squad will soon visit the Prime Minister’s Residence to take testimony from Netanyahu,” reported Haartez, citing senior sources in the investigation.

“The probe was initiated by two intelligence sources concerning alleged acts of corruption by Prime Minister Netanyahu, during the period from 2006 to 2009, when he was leader of the opposition,” the newspaper added.