Soldier’s Testimonies Reveal Misconduct in Gaza War

One such attempt at exposing the events during the Gaza War was undertaken by the Israeli organization Breaking the Silence. This organization is comprised of veteran Israeli soldiers who compile testimonies from Israeli soldiers who have served or have been witness to operations in the Occupied Territories. These testimonies are then disseminated to an English and Hebrew speaking audience on their website, by print, though lectures, via other media outlets and through tours conducted in the West Bank city of Hebron.

Breaking the Silence released a 112 page document under the official codename for the Gaza war - Operation Cast Lead. This document contains testimonies from thirty Israeli soldiers who participated in the campaign. The revelations contained within corroborate many of the allegations of reprehensible wartime conduct and “[brings] into question the credibility of the official IDF versions”. The interviews conducted explore the usage of white phosphorus, destruction of property unrelated to Israeli directives, the demolitions of homes, the use of Palestinians as human shields, the overall moral degradation of the Israeli Army among other pertinent issue. As noted in the document, these testimonies directly challenge the Israeli Army claim that any moral issues are not systemic, but rather concern the behavior of individual delinquent soldiers.

It was revealed that soldiers “were not ordered to open fire only if there was a real threat" which allowed them to rely upon their individual judgment undoubtedly contributing to the high civilian death toll. Soldiers did not restrain themselves as "they are waiting for this day, the fun of shooting and feeling all that power in [their] hands" explains one soldier.

One soldier made the startling revelation that the brigade commander expressed that "no consideration of civilians was to be taken" and continued to state that "the issue of civilians became irrelevant as soon as you’d enter combat - the rules change. You shoot. It’s war. In war no questions are asked".

A prevailing attitude existed that it was “better to shoot first and ask questions later" and soldiers were explicitly told that "from a certain distance when they (Palestinians) approach a house, no matter who it is - even an old woman - take them down".

Some soldiers, according to one testimony, would enter homes and shoot for "fun". Many of the houses were found empty and "people were disappointed and began to let off steam and simply shoot".

Evidently, this demonstrates the lack of control as one testimony reveals that they “were allowed to do anything [they] wanted”.

One soldier admits to being bothered by the excessive destruction of homes and property in addition to firing at civilians.

"It didn’t take much to aim at schools, hospitals and such."

"Houses were demolished everywhere" reveals one soldier, "nothing is immune, nothing and no area".

Another testimony reveals that "the amount of destruction there was incredible...you see plenty of fields, hothouses, orchards, everything devastated. Totally ruined. It’s terrible. It’s surreal".

Orders were issued to "raze as much as possible of the area" according to one soldier who claims that "such razing is a euphemism for intentional, systematic destruction” which was a strategic move to allow for “total visibility”.

When asked about the usage of white phosphorus, one soldier revealed that they simply followed orders issued by the company commander permitting phosphorus in the air. The soldier failed to understand why the ammunition was in their supplies if they were not to use it.

One solider commented that "the difficult thing about the atmosphere was the negligible value placed on human life" and it became easy to "grow indifferent" to the suffering and death. The soldier further expressed that he "did not feel any heroic elation or sacrifice" coming out of Gaza and felt that the experience "was sickening".

Despite these startling revelations Defense Minister Ehud Barak maintains that the Israeli Army is among the most moral armies in the world.

Operation Cast Lead

Testimonies from 30 Israeli soldiers, during the Cast Lead Operation on Gaza, January 2009. (Breaking the Silence)