Israel has revealed it has reprimanded two top army officers for authorising an artillery¹ attack which hit a UN compound in Gaza last year.

以色列政府透露，就去年一座联合国建筑物遭火炮袭击事件训斥了两位高级军官对此次袭击的授权行为。

In the attack on 15 January 2009 the compound was set ablaze²着火，闪耀 by white phosphorus黄磷，白磷 shells.

The admission is contained in the Israeli response to the UN's Goldstone report, which concluded both Israel and Hamas had committed war crimes.

Both officers have retained保留，保存 their ranks, according to reports.

The Israeli army has not specifically said that the rules of engagement were broken over the use of white phosphorus.

During the 22-day conflict last year, media pictures showed incendiary煽动的，纵火的 shells raining down on a UN compound.

The officers were named in Israeli media reports as Gaza Division Commander Brig Gen Eyal Eisenberg and Givati Brigade Commander Col Ilan Malka.

"Several artillery shells were fired in violation³ of违反 the rules of engagement prohibiting use of such artillery near populated areas," the Israeli response to the Goldstone report says.

The officers were charged with "exceeding their authority" in ordering the use of the weapons in the attack.

An Israeli Defence Force spokesman said that the reprimand谴责，训斥 would be noted⁴ on their records and would be considered if they apply for promotion⁵ in future.

Brig Gen Eisenberg is still in command of Israel's Gaza division, and Col Malka has been moved to the West Bank under the same rank, according to the Reuters news agency.

'Evidence'

Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said the military was investigating about 150 allegations. There was enough evidence in 36 cases to pass those claims to military police for criminal investigations⁷.

"In this particular case, it was not referred to criminal investigation⁶, it wasn't decided⁸ that there was evidence of criminal wrongdoing and a reprimand was warranted," Mr Regev said, referring to the shells fired on the UN compound.

Criminal proceedings⁹ have so far been opened in one case, concerning an alleged¹⁰ theft of a credit card from a Palestinian family by an Israeli soldier.

The soldier used the card to withdraw hundreds of dollars, Israeli media reported.

Mr Regev said there would be "serious consequences" for soldiers found guilty of criminal conduct.

'Hush¹² money'

A Hamas spokesman said the disciplinary action纪律处分，训练活动 was "further admission of Israel's guilt¹¹" over alleged war crimes.

But he said he did not expect any further action to be taken against military officers.

He said Israel had paid the United Nations $10.5 million (£6.6 million) in damages to repair their compounds, which he called "hush money封口钱".

A UN representative who was in the compound in Gaza city during the attack told the BBC he "expected full accountability有义务，有责任 from the Israelis".

Two UN staff and two Palestinians sheltering in the compound were seriously injured, he said.

A doctor at Gaza city's main hospital told the BBC he treated hundreds of Palestinians for phosphorus burns during the offensive.