Israel Military Police received on Thursday the order to launch an immediate investigation into the alleged unethical actions of soldiers during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza Strip.

The Military Advocate General of Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Brig. Gen. Avichai Mendelblit, made the instruction after the exposure of testimonies from Israeli soldiers and officers describing that the army killed Palestinian civilians and intentionally destroyed their property during the operation in Gaza Strip in January, according to a statement released from the IDF spokesperson.

The testimonies were first appeared during a pre-military preparatory conference at the military academy at Oranim Academic College on February 13, when Israeli combat pilots and infantry soldiers recounted their experiences in the Gaza operation, local Ha'aretz daily reported.

The head of the pre-military course, Danny Zamir, told Ha'aretzon Wednesday that he did not expect in advance what the soldiers would say at the gathering, and what they said "shocked us."

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israel Radio Thursday morning that he was certain the IDF would examine the findings "with all necessary seriousness."