DaysofPal- The Associated Press has reported confessions by Israeli soldiers detailing war crimes, including targeting unarmed Palestinian civilians, looting, and the destruction of homes that posed no threat during the ongoing assault on Gaza, now in its 466th day.
According to the report, nearly 200 Israeli soldiers have signed a letter pledging to cease fighting unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government reaches a ceasefire agreement.
Accounts of Looting and Destruction
Some of these soldiers admitted to receiving orders to “burn or demolish homes” that did not present any danger.
They also described witnessing looting and vandalism of homes by fellow soldiers.
One soldier revealed that he was instructed to shoot anyone entering a buffer zone under their control, sharing that he observed a growing disregard for human life.
He stated that an image of soldiers killing an unarmed Palestinian youth remains seared in his memory.
Looting and Desecration
An Israeli doctor, who spent two months in Gaza, testified that soldiers desecrated homes and looted items to keep as “souvenirs.”
These revelations highlight the severity of the situation and bring renewed calls for international accountability in addressing human rights violations in Gaza.
The Hebrew newspaper Haaretz has revealed shocking statements from a commander in the 252nd Division of the Israeli military regarding the army’s practices at the Netsarim axis in Gaza.
“The Line of Corpses”
According to soldiers and officers who served in the area, a section north of the Netsarim axis is infamously known as the “Line of Corpses,” a term familiar to Gaza residents. Soldiers described the Israeli army as behaving like an armed militia operating outside the bounds of law.
One soldier recounted, “After shooting Palestinians near Netsarim, we leave the corpses for the dogs.” He added that civilians are often killed and falsely labeled as armed fighters.
Systematic Execution and Photo Documentation
A former Israeli officer at Netsarim disclosed that soldiers were ordered to send photos of the bodies of Palestinians they killed.
“We sent photos of 200 dead, but only 10 turned out to be Hamas fighters,” the officer admitted.
Another officer revealed a grotesque competition among military units to kill the highest number of Palestinians, often fabricating claims that the victims were armed to justify their executions.
A Place Without Laws
The officer confessed to Haaretz, “We, the soldiers, bear responsibility for part of the horror happening in Gaza. We are in a lawless place where human life has no value.”
He further described a common scene: an entire group of soldiers rushing to kill a single person near the Netsarim axis, riddling them with bullets amidst the laughter of their comrades.
A senior Israeli officer told Haaretz: “Israelis need to know the reality of this war and the dangerous actions of some officers and soldiers in Gaza.”
These harrowing testimonies add to the growing body of evidence of grave human rights violations in Gaza and intensify calls for accountability on an international level.
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