As previously published and as noted by the Human Rights Council's commission of inquiry, the State Comptroller and Ombudsman of Israel the Hon. Judge Joseph H Shapira is currently conducting an inquiry regarding procedures of decision - making by the military and political echelons during operation Protective Edge. The inquiry includes as well varied aspects of international law. Contrary to some assertions, the inquiry focuses on the compliance with the tenets of established international law. Among other issues, it also focuses on the application of the investigational measures established by the international law, to acts been performed by the IDF and the government during the operation. The inquiry is based on decisions of the Supreme Court, previous reports of the State Comptroller, and recommendations of Commissions of Inquiry such as the "Turkel Commission", that has examined Israel's mechanisms of investigating complaints and claims regarding violations of Humanitarian Law.
The field work is in progress and the analysts' team has collected materials concerning events that occurred during the operation and concerning the mechanisms of investigation been applied. The Final Report of the State Comptroller will be based on the specific evidence collected as shaped by insights drawn from the underlying values of both international and Israeli law. The analysis of the material is currently being processed with the assistance of external experts, as previously published.
The State Comptroller - who operates fully independently in accordance with his constitutional authority - intends to review, among other aspects, different issues being discussed in the report of the Human Rights Council's Commission of Inquiry. The independent and impartial assessment of the State Comptroller and Ombudsman cannot be constrained by artificially imposed deadlines or external expectations. Efforts will be made to complete a draft of the report in the coming months.