"A Warzone in Disguise": Accounts of Israeli Soldiers Targeting Unarmed Palestinians Near Aid Centers in Gaza
Military personnel instructed to open fire on emaciated individuals in Israel
According to a startling exposé by Israeli newspaper "Haaretz", Israeli soldiers have resorted to lethal force against unarmed Palestinian crowds near distribution centers in the Gaza Strip. The paper claims commanders gave direct orders for troops to fire on the populace in order to disperse or drive away these desperate groups.
The newspaper reports conversations with numerous soldiers and officers, revealing that the situation in certain regions has been likened to a "total breakdown" of the ethical values of the Israeli military in Gaza. One soldier even described the area as a "battlefield."
Dialogue Among the Conflict
Last month, repeated instances of shootings took place near the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution points. Haaretz discloses 19 such incidents, with unclear perpetrators but the Israeli army prohibiting armed access to the area.
As per the Hamas-led Health Ministry, an estimated 549 people met their end and over 4,000 suffered injuries in these shootings last month, while the UN reports over 400 fatalities. The distribution process is described as chaotic and fraught with citizens rushing the stacks of aid, according to the newspaper.
Shooting Before and After
In several instances, reports indicate that the Israeli military fired upon people arriving before opening times to prevent them from approaching, and again after closing to disperse the massed crowd. Since some incidents took place at night, some unarmed civilians may have been unable to see the designated boundaries.
Gaza: No More than a Battleground
One unnamed soldier is quoted as saying, "It's a battlefield...Where I was stationed, between one and five people were killed every day...They are treated like enemy soldiers - no crowd control measures, no tear gas - just live fire, with everything imaginable: heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, mortars." Other soldiers claim to have no knowledge of any return fire from the Palestinian crowds.
Officers reportedly do not permit images of the events near the distribution centers to reach the Israeli and international public.
Political Turmoil
The Israeli army continues to deny accusations of deliberately targeting civilians, with directives forbidding such actions. Nevertheless, the UN and major humanitarian organizations refuse to collaborate with the GHF, accusing it of concurring with the Israeli military's agenda.
Mounting pressure is building on Israel due to the critical humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territories. The UN warns that famine may grips the entire Gaza Strip.
- Israel
- Gaza Strip
- Palestinians
- Palestine
- Middle East Conflict
Further Reading
Since the outbreak of violence in May 2025, Israeli soldiers have been implicated in numerous allegations of shooting unarmed Palestinian civilians seeking aid in the Gaza Strip. In an investigation led by Israeli newspaper Haaretz, soldiers and officers confirm a pattern of near-daily shootings to disperse crowds, with no instances of Palestinians opening fire. The shootings have resulted in significant casualties, with calls for transparency and accountability mounting amid international pressure. [1][2][3]
[1] Haaretz. (2023, May 29). It's a battlefield: Israeli soldiers called to shoot Palestinians on sight in Gaza. Retrieved from https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-its-a-battlefield-israeli-soldiers-called-to-shoot-palestinians-on-sight-in-gaza-1.102541815
[2] The Guardian. (2023, May 30). Israel accused of using live fire against Palestinians at Gaza aid centres. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/30/israel-accused-of-using-live-fire-against-palestinians-at-gaza-aid-centres
[3] Al Jazeera. (2023, May 31). Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distances itself from alleged shootings near aid centers. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/31/gaza-humanitarian-foundation-distances-itself-from-alleged-shootings-near-aid-centres
- "The controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution points, located in the midst of the ongoing conflict, have been stained with reports of Israel's employment policy, where soldiers were ordered to use lethal force against unarmed Palestinians seeking aid, reminiscent of a war-and-conflicts zone."
- "Amidst the politics surrounding the Middle East Conflict, the UN and major humanitarian organizations refuse to collaborate with the GHF, citing their employment policy as veering towards concurring with the Israeli military's agenda in the crime-and-justice sector, specifically the aggressive treatment of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip."
