Israeli Soldiers Speak Out on Civilian Deaths in Gaza

According to Rokna, citing The Guardian, Israeli soldiers have revealed the chaos and breakdown of rules in Gaza, describing unprovoked shootings and arbitrary decisions about who is considered an enemy, according to testimony in a TV documentary.

“If you want to shoot without limits, you can,” says Daniel, a commander of an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tank unit, in Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel’s War, set to air on ITV in the UK on Monday evening. Some soldiers spoke on the record, while others requested anonymity. All highlighted the collapse of the official code of conduct regarding civilians.

Those who spoke confirmed the IDF’s routine use of human shields, contradicting official denials, and described unprovoked shootings of civilians trying to reach food distributions at militarized points run by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

“In basic training, we chanted ‘means, intent, and ability,’” said Capt. Yotam Vilk, an armored corps officer, referring to IDF guidelines stating that soldiers can fire only if the target has the means, intent, and capability to harm. “In Gaza, there’s no such rule. Soldiers don’t mention it; it’s just suspicion over someone walking where they shouldn’t be—a man aged 20 to 40.”

Another soldier, identified only as Eli, said, “Life and death aren’t determined by rules; it’s the commander’s conscience that decides.” Under such conditions, determining who is an enemy or terrorist becomes arbitrary. “Walking too fast or too slow is suspicious. Even one man lagging behind in a group of three is considered a military formation,” Eli said.

He recounted a case where a senior officer ordered a tank to destroy a building in an area marked as safe for civilians. “A man hanging laundry on the roof was labeled a spotter. He wasn’t. The tank fired, the building partially collapsed, and many were killed or injured,” Eli explained.

Analysis by The Guardian in August suggested 83% of those killed in Gaza were civilians, according to Israeli military data, a record high for modern conflicts, though the IDF disputed this. Over 69,000 Palestinians have died since the start of the war, with casualties continuing despite a ceasefire one month ago.

The IDF said in a statement: “We remain committed to the rule of law and operate according to legal and ethical obligations, despite operational complexities from Hamas embedding within civilian areas and using civilian sites for military purposes.”

Some soldiers said they were influenced by Israeli political and religious rhetoric suggesting that after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, in which about 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed, every Palestinian was a legitimate target. A UN commission concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza, citing incitement by leaders like President Isaac Herzog.

Daniel said the rhetoric that “no one in Gaza is innocent” filtered down through the ranks. “You hear it constantly, and you start to believe it.” A spokesperson for Herzog stated the president has consistently advocated for humanitarian causes and civilian protection.

The documentary also revealed some rabbis encouraged revenge against all Palestinians, including civilians. Maj. Neta Caspin said one brigade rabbi advised, “We must take revenge on all of them, including civilians. This is the only way.” Rabbi Avraham Zarbiv, an extremist cleric, not only gave religious approval for mass demolitions but also personally operated bulldozers, pioneering tactics later adopted by the IDF.

The soldiers confirmed repeated use of Palestinians as human shields, known as the “mosquito protocol.” Daniel explained, “The shield maps tunnels with GPS as he walks. Commanders saw this and spread it throughout the army.”

The IDF maintains it prohibits using civilians as shields or forcing them into operations, emphasizing compliance throughout the war. Allegations of misconduct are investigated, but internal investigations have rarely led to accountability.

Contractor Sam, who worked at GHF food sites, said he witnessed soldiers shooting unarmed civilians. At one site, “Two young men were running for aid, soldiers chased and shot them, and their heads snapped back,” he said. Another incident involved a tank destroying a civilian car. UN figures report at least 944 Palestinian civilians were killed near GHF sites, though both GHF and the IDF deny targeting aid recipients.

Breaking Ranks also shows the mental toll on some soldiers. “They’ve destroyed all my pride in being an Israeli, an IDF officer,” Daniel said. “All that’s left is shame.”