War without consequences: How Israel shelters its soldiers from justice

The Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) organization reported that Israel has closed 88% of cases involving allegations of war crimes, misconduct, or other violations without laying charges.

According to AOAV, nearly 9 out of 10 Israeli military investigations into alleged war crimes or abuse by its forces since the beginning of the Gaza war have been closed without identifying any culprit or yielding results.

Unresolved cases include the killing of at least 112 Palestinians who were waiting in line for flour in Gaza City in February 2024, and an airstrike in May 2024 that massacred 45 people in a tent camp in Rafah.

Another unresolved case concerns the June 1 massacre of 31 Palestinians who were on their way to a food distribution site in Rafah. Witnesses reported that they were killed after Israeli soldiers opened fire on them.

The Israeli military (IDF) later claimed these reports were “false,” yet has recently said it is “reviewing the matter.”

AOAV researchers said the data shows Israel, by failing to conclude cases or find wrongdoing in most of the “most severe or blatant allegations of misconduct by its forces,” is creating a “pattern of impunity.”

The Israeli military claims that, in line with its obligations under both domestic and international law, it investigates exceptional incidents during operational activity where there is suspicion of legal violations.

However, two AOAV researchers noted that Israeli military investigations have become more opaque and slower as civilian casualties in Gaza have mounted.

AOAV reported finding information in English-language media about 52 cases in which the Israeli military said it had investigated or would investigate incidents related to harm to civilians or crimes committed by its forces in Gaza or the West Bank between October 2023 and the end of June 2025. These incidents resulted in 1,303 Palestinian deaths and 1,880 injuries.

According to AOAV, of the 46 remaining serious misconduct and violation cases from Israel’s war on Gaza—representing 88% of all cases—seven were closed without finding anyone responsible. The other 39 cases remain under investigation or have no reported outcome, including four deadly incidents last month in which Palestinians were massacred near or at food distribution points in Gaza.

In August 2024, the Israeli military claimed to have independently collected information on hundreds of incidents related to the Gaza war, while the Military Advocate General’s Office launched 74 criminal investigations.

Of these, 52 relate to the killing and mistreatment of detainees; three involve the “destruction of civilian property without military necessity”; and six concern “allegations of unlawful use of force.” Complaints about war crimes in direct combat situations are extremely limited.