DaysofPal— A former Israeli reserve soldier has exposed chilling details of systemic violence against Palestinians in Gaza, asserting that Israeli military commanders routinely instruct troops to open fire on civilians, even those who pose no threat.
In a searing article published by Haaretz, Chaim Har-Zahav recounted his experience during an 86-day reserve mission in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Har-Zahav said that Palestinian lives are treated with alarming disregard, entirely subject to the whims of commanders.
“The lives of Palestinians in Gaza depend entirely on the personal values of the commanders in charge,” Har-Zahav wrote. He described a military culture where issuing orders to kill unarmed civilians carries no repercussions.
“A human life in Gaza is worth less than the stray dogs that roam the area. Soldiers are forbidden from shooting dogs unless directly threatened, but Palestinians can be shot with almost no restrictions.”
White Flags Ignored
Har-Zahav detailed one incident in which a senior commander ordered the killing of an unarmed man waving a white flag.
Despite being informed that the man posed no threat, the commander reportedly said, “I don’t know what a white flag is. Shoot him, it’s an order.”
The order was not carried out, as soldiers recognized it as illegal. However, Har-Zahav emphasized that such incidents are part of a broader pattern, stating that the army’s values and norms have deteriorated to the point where Palestinian lives are at the mercy of individual soldiers.
Targeting Civilians
Har-Zahav’s account echoes other documented cases of civilian targeting. In January, British broadcaster ITV News aired footage showing Israeli forces in Khan Younis shooting unarmed men with their hands raised in surrender. Among the victims was Ramzi Abu Sahloul, who was holding a white flag when he was fatally shot.
Although the Israeli army initially claimed the footage was “edited,” independent analyses, including satellite imagery and expert testimony, confirmed its authenticity.
Family Destroyed
The systematic violence has left Palestinian families devastated. On January 24, the Barbakh family in Khan Younis faced unimaginable loss. Fourteen-year-old Nahed Adel Barbakh was the first to step out of the house with a white flag after Israeli expulsion orders. He was immediately shot in the legs and fell to the ground.
As Nahed attempted to crawl back to safety, he was shot again—this time in the back and head. His older brother, Ramez, ran to save him but was also gunned down.
“I kept hoping they were still alive, that there was some breath in them,” their mother, Islam, recounted in anguish. “I couldn’t think of anything except, ‘I want my children. I want my children.’”
The family could not retrieve the bodies due to continuous Israeli fire. Before fleeing, 18-year-old Ahmed, the boys’ brother, took a photograph of their lifeless bodies.
“I took the photo so no one could deny what happened,” Ahmed said. “This is the crime of shooting a child with a white flag and killing his brother who tried to save him.”
Global Condemnation
The killings have drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups. The Euro-Med Rights Monitor described the attack on the Barbakh brothers as a “horrific premeditated execution,” calling it a flagrant violation of international law.
“These killings are war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide,” the NGO stated. It called for international accountability and stressed that such acts violate laws prohibiting the targeting of civilians not involved in hostilities.
Culture of Impunity
Har-Zahav’s testimony and other documented cases reveal a disturbing culture of impunity within the Israeli occupation military. Commanders issuing illegal orders rarely face accountability, perpetuating what human rights organizations describe as a systematic disregard for Palestinian lives.
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