Hundreds of IDF Investigations Lack Public Outcome, BBC Verify Finds

BBC Verify has identified 254 incidents where the Israeli military (IDF) stated it was investigating allegations of harm, but no public outcome has been released. These incidents span Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, and Israel, occurring between October 2023 and August 2026. Of 300 cases examined by BBC Verify that the military said it was reviewing, only 28 had publicly published outcomes on the IDF website, with a further 18 cases having unclear investigation statuses.

The IDF stated that it "takes every allegation or report raising concerns about conduct that may be inconsistent with the law or IDF directives with the utmost seriousness." However, when approached by BBC Verify, the IDF provided information on only two incidents, which it said are still under review. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) guidelines suggest that investigations into potential violations of international humanitarian law should be as transparent as possible.

Of the 254 incidents without public outcomes, 158 occurred in Gaza, 48 in the West Bank, and 32 in Lebanon, with 16 taking place in Israel or IDF detention. More than 200 of these cases reportedly resulted in at least one death.

Some incidents without disclosed outcomes date back to late 2023. One of the most severe involved an August 2024 strike on a school building in Gaza that reportedly killed at least 93 people, including children. For years, the IDF has often responded to accusations of harm by stating an incident is under investigation, with little subsequent public information.

IDF Investigation Process

The results of IDF military investigations, including those involving criminal inquiries into soldiers, are not routinely made public. In some instances, the military has announced investigations only after being prompted by media organizations. In August, the IDF released a report detailing internal probes into five Gaza incidents, including the killings of five-year-old Hind Rajab and 15 Palestinian Red Crescent emergency workers, which had been escalated to criminal investigations. For three other cases involving the deaths of aid workers from World Central Kitchen and Médecins Sans Frontières, the IDF found no grounds for a criminal investigation.

Israel's General Staff Fact-Finding and Assessment Mechanism (FFAM) has reviewed approximately 150 cases since the war began. These cases have been transferred to the Military Prosecution for further examination. However, the IDF has not provided a breakdown of these incidents or clarified if they overlap with those identified by BBC Verify.

In a statement, the IDF explained that it publishes investigation outcomes "when possible, subject to legal and operational considerations, as well as restrictions relating to privacy and information security." The military also noted that command-level operational reviews are conducted to establish events, identify failures, and draw lessons to improve conduct. Disciplinary action has been taken in dozens of cases against soldiers who failed to meet expected standards.

Data obtained by the Israeli human rights group Yesh Din indicated that between October 2023 and August 2024, at least 1,456 Gaza-related incidents were referred to the FFAM, with only two resulting in criminal investigations.

Experts suggest that protracted investigations can lead to public disinterest. Janina Dill, a professor of international law at the University of Oxford, emphasized that parties to armed conflict have a responsibility to investigate and potentially prosecute their own forces, adhering to principles of promptness, thoroughness, and impartiality.

Eran Shamir-Borer, director of the Center for Security and Democracy at the Israeli Democracy Institute, acknowledged the challenges of investigating allegations in complex combat environments. He also suggested that increased transparency from the IDF regarding its investigations would be beneficial.

Incidents in Gaza, West Bank, and Lebanon

Since the October 7, 2023, attacks, the IDF has conducted extensive operations in Gaza. BBC Verify has previously reported on incidents involving emergency workers, individuals seeking aid, widespread building destruction, and alleged misconduct by Israeli soldiers.

One notable case in Gaza involved the December 2023 killing of two women, Nahida and Samar Anton, inside the Holy Family church. The IDF stated at the time that troops had identified an alleged Hamas threat in the church's vicinity and that the incident was under review. Almost three years later, the IDF confirmed the incident is still being reviewed, citing the time required for complex investigations.

An air strike in August 2024 on a school building in eastern Gaza city, which housed displaced Palestinians, reportedly killed at least 93 people. The IDF stated it targeted a Hamas command and control center within the building and that an initial review indicated a discrepancy with reported casualty numbers. This incident also remains under review.

In the West Bank, where over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since October 2023, BBC Verify examined over 50 IDF investigations. One incident in September 2024 involved the reported killing of 16-year-old Loujain Musleh, which the IDF stated was under review after soldiers reportedly fired on a suspect observing them.

In Lebanon, BBC Verify found nearly 40 IDF investigations. An Israeli strike on November 10, 2024, near Byblos reportedly killed 23 people, including children. The IDF stated it targeted a Hezbollah site and that the incident was under review.

Ongoing Investigations and Transparency

Experts note that operational security and the need to prevent adversaries from adapting rules of engagement can be reasons for not publicly disclosing investigation details. However, some argue that prolonged investigations three years into the conflict raise concerns.

Michael Schmitt, a professor of international law, stated that while the IDF's legal division is highly regarded, not every allegation necessitates a full investigation, and elements of investigations would naturally remain confidential.

Dill expressed that the lack of concluded investigations or the perception of investigations being delayed could undermine Israel's narrative of accountability.

Methodology

BBC Verify analyzed over 61,000 reports from BBC News and Reuters published between October 7, 2023, and August 19, 2026. Using AI tools, they identified nearly 5,000 reports mentioning alleged harm by Israeli forces where the IDF stated an investigation was underway. Each report was manually verified, leading to 1,343 reports of incidents under IDF review. Duplicate reports were removed, resulting in 300 unique incidents. The IDF was contacted for an update on each case. The IDF did not provide the status of these investigations in response. Publicly available outcomes were found for 28 cases, while 18 had unclear statuses. This left at least 254 incidents for which no public outcome was found on the IDF website. The search was not exhaustive, and more investigations may exist.