The Israeli military on Wednesday released its findings [text] of the investigation of the 2014 50-day war episode known as “Black Friday,” saying no wrongdoing occurred on behalf of the military in response to the attacks in Rafah.

“Black Friday” is known as one of the deadliest episodes in the Gaza Strip during the 50-day war. Many criticized the Israeli Defense Forces for the incident, saying it “operated in an indiscriminate and disproportionate manner during the fighting, and that significant harm was caused to life and property.” Critics claim that the purpose of the attacks “was to avenge the kidnapping of Lieutenant Goldin and the killing of Major Sarel and Staff Sergeant Gidoni.”

The Military Advocate General (MAG) led the investigation and ultimately found no wrongdoing in the military’s fire strikes, ground operations, aerial strikes, and more, saying:

Based on an examination of all the materials collected, including with respect to the individual incidents that were examined, no factual basis whatsoever was found that gave rise to a suspicion that the use of fire was done for the purpose of “revenge” or as a “price tag” on the residents of Rafah …. [T]here was no sufficient evidentiary basis to the allegations that the aforementioned combat engineering operations were motivated by illicit purposes, nor any indication of intentional destruction of property where there was no imperative military necessity to do so. … [T]hat the use of aerial strikes accorded with Israeli domestic law and international law requirements.

The MAG also found no evidence to cause a reasonable suspicion of criminal misconduct. Thus, criminal cases were dismissed.

In a response [NYT report] to the report, Israeli human rights advocates called for an independent investigation, as they allege that the Israeli military cannot be impartial about its own conduct.