Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a visit to the Netzarim corridor in the Gaza Strip
Newspaper Haaretz is facing harsh criticism from the Israeli government, which quoted soldiers, career officers and reservists as saying commanders had been given unprecedented powers to operate in Gaza.
They accuse commanders of ordering or authorizing the killing of women, children and unarmed men in the Netzarim corridor, a 7km-wide strip of land that cuts across Gaza from Israel to the Mediterranean that has turned into a zone military.
The report quoted an officer recounting an incident in which a commander announced that 200 Hamas members were killed, when in fact “only 10 were confirmed to be Hamas members”.
Sheet Haaretz also quoted Israeli soldiers as saying they had received orders to open fire on “anyone who trespassed” the Netzarim corridor.
“Anyone who crosses the line is a terrorist, no exceptions, no civilians. All are terrorists,” one soldier quoted a battalion commander as saying.
The soldiers also described how division commanders received “expanded powers” allowing them to bomb buildings or conduct air strikes that previously required approval from senior leaders. highest level of the army.
United Nations: Nearly 70% of the dead in Gaza are women and children
AFP quoted an Israeli military statement denying the accusations.
“All operations and operations conducted by (Israeli military) forces in the Gaza Strip, including the Netzarim corridor, are carried out in accordance with operational procedures, plans and operational orders issued by the highest level.” in (military) approval,” according to the release.
The military further asserted that “all airstrikes in the (Netzarim) area were conducted in accordance with required procedures and protocols, including targets attacked within the emergency timeframe due to necessary operational situations when ground forces are faced with immediate threats”.
“Incidents that give rise to concerns about violations of IDF orders or ethical standards are thoroughly reviewed and resolved,” the statement said, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.
Many soldiers told the newspaper Haaretz about Brigadier General Yehuda Vach, who took over the 252nd Division based in Netzarim last summer. One soldier said that Mr. Vach, who was born in a West Bank settlement, had “a clear world view and political stance that influenced his operational decisions.”
Another soldier said that Mr. Vach once declared that “there are no innocent people in Gaza”. The Israeli military said that “the statements attributed to Mr. Vach… are not his”, and are baseless.
Israel began its assault on Gaza after militants led by Hamas attacked Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages. Israel said about 100 hostages were still being held, but it was unclear how many were alive.
Authorities in Gaza say Israel’s campaign has killed more than 45,000 Palestinians and displaced most of the population of 2.3 million. Much of this coastal land has been devastated.
