Attorney Ran Cohen Rochberger, who represents the family of slain Border Police officer Barel Hadarya Shmueli, has responded to the intermediate conclusions of the IDF's investigation into the incident that led to Shmueli's death.
"The family asked difficult questions of the IDF commanders, and has not received adequate responses," Rochberger said. "The family is experiencing strong emotions at this time - disappointment, hurt, and frustration at the results of the investigation.
"The family does not accept the results of the investigation - not the findings, not the conclusions, and not the bottom line which is that the IDF has no intention of taking procedural steps against any commander. Barel was not killed during the course of an operation against terrorists in Gaza. He was killed during a riot, and if commanders had been properly prepared and had given the appropriate orders at the event itself, the terrible tragedy could have been averted.
"Therefore, the family will continue to demand that the IDF conduct a comprehensive and transparent investigation, and that this investigation not be conducted by the commanders themselves but rather, by an expert military panel that will regard the incident objectively."