Gaza 'Star of David' carving probed

JERUSALEM, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- A 200-foot Star of David was carved into a Palestinian field in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead, satellite images reveal.

A report prepared by the U.N. Institute for Training and Research and given to a commission probing alleged war crimes during the operation included photos of the Jewish symbol, which experts said was likely created by driving Israeli army tanks across cultivated fields and paved roads, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The Post said the army wasn't familiar with the field carving, which it apparently missed while going over the findings of the Goldstone Commission, led by South African jurist Richard Goldstone. UNITAR officials said the satellite image was taken some time between Jan. 3 and 10, 2009.

The Goldstone Commission was aware of the satellite image but made no mention of it in the report, in which both Israel and Hamas are cited for possible war crimes in Gaza, the newspaper reported.

Military sources told the Post it's possible the symbol was carved to mark the location to show the air force that soldiers operating nearby were Israeli.

Source: United Press International (UPI).
Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/International/2010/02/01/Gaza-Star-of-David-carving-probed/UPI-18881265031079/.