Tel Aviv, Israel - After repeatedly rebuffing charges of having committed war crimes in its recent war against Hamas in Gaza, Israel has been stunned into a self-examination following the publication of soldier testimony about the use of excessive force against Palestinian civilians.

The Israeli army spokesperson said in a statement Thursday that its military prosecutor has launched a criminal investigation into the alleged deliberate killing of women, children, and elderly noncombatants. It marks the first acknowledgement by Israel of possible misdeeds in a war that left 1,300 Gazans dead, thousands more injured, and billions of dollars worth of property damaged.