A former Israeli soldier who took part in the Gaza war has made serious allegations about what he witnessed during the conflict. In an interview with the British magazine The Economist, he said that he joined the war believing he was participating in the most just war in Israel’s history, but the months he spent in Gaza completely changed his perspective.
The interview was conducted through the Israeli organization Breaking the Silence. In the report, the soldier was identified under the pseudonym ‘Jonathan’ for security reasons.
According to the former soldier, after entering Gaza, his unit was not given clear instructions regarding the protection of civilians. He claimed that there was a perception among the soldiers that people who remained in the area despite evacuation orders and bombardment could be considered potential targets.
The soldier also said that Palestinian men of fighting age were often viewed as potential threats. According to him, there were instances where people who were unarmed were killed, and in the conditions of war it was often not possible to verify their identities.
In his statement, he made another serious allegation. He claimed that during some military operations, Palestinian detainees were sent ahead of soldiers to inspect buildings and identify potential explosives or ambushes. According to the soldier, this practice was referred to among the troops as the ‘Mosquito Protocol.’
He said that within military units, there was little discussion about whether this practice was right or wrong. Instead, more attention was focused on how to manage the people who were being forced to carry out these tasks.
The former soldier also spoke about the large-scale destruction in Gaza. According to him, as time went on, the primary task of many infantry units became the demolition of buildings and infrastructure. However, many soldiers did not understand the broader strategic purpose behind these operations.
He said that as the war continued and the stated objectives did not appear to be achieved, questions and frustration among the soldiers kept growing. According to him, the lack of a clear strategy and the prolonged nature of the conflict also led to dissatisfaction within the military.
The former soldier also criticized the Israeli media. He said that a large part of the suffering experienced by Palestinians in Gaza was not conveyed to the public. According to him, there was a significant gap between what he witnessed firsthand and what was portrayed in the media.
At the end of the interview, the soldier said that he no longer feels proud of his military service or his Israeli identity. He said that he is ashamed of what happened in Gaza and can no longer imagine displaying his country’s flag at his home.
This report is based on claims made by the former soldier in an interview published in the British magazine The Economist.