An Israeli reservist who served three tours in Gaza reveals in his interview with Sky News that his unit received orders to shoot anyone approaching areas soldiers had designated as “no-go zones” – regardless of whether they were unarmed civilians or not. “When we’re in a territory, the orders are as follows: whoever enters (the forbidden zone) must die. It doesn’t matter who they are,” the soldier specifically stated.
According to the news outlet, the soldier was a reservist in the 252nd Division of the Israeli Defense Forces, and has served twice in the Netzarim Corridor – which was designed to allow Israeli forces greater control from inside the Strip.
“One of the houses we had occupied was close to the civilian neighborhood, with people inside. They told us there was an ‘imaginary dividing line’ that our commanders said Gaza residents knew about and weren’t allowed to cross. But how could they know? (We shot) everyone who entered the area, even a teenager riding his bicycle,” he noted.
Criteria for opening fire against civilians vary according to each commander’s “mood”
The reservist described the belief prevailing among soldiers that “all Gaza residents were terrorists,” even when they were clearly unarmed civilians. This perception, he said, was not challenged and was often supported by commanders.
“They don’t really talk to you about the civilians who might come to your position. Like when I was in the Netzarim Corridor, and they say if someone comes here, it means they know they shouldn’t be there, and if they come, it means they’re a terrorist. That’s what they tell you. But I don’t believe it’s true. They’re just poor people, civilians who don’t have many choices,” the soldier stated.
Moreover, he said that criteria for opening fire against civilians vary depending on the commander. “They might shoot them, they might arrest them. It really depends on the day, on the commander’s mood.”
“Each commander can decide for himself what to do. It’s like the Wild West. So some commanders can really decide to commit war crimes and bad things and not face the consequences,” he continued.
Soldiers feel no pity for Palestinians
The reservist also noted that many of his comrades believed there were no innocents in Gaza, referencing Hamas’s October 7 attack.
Specifically, he said: “Many of the soldiers said that these people (the Palestinians) did nothing to prevent the events of October 7 and probably were enjoying themselves when this was happening to us. So they deserve to die. They don’t feel pity for them (the Palestinians), many of them really believed they were doing something good.”
In Israel, it’s rare for soldiers to publicly criticize the IDF – considering the Israeli military something of a “ritual” for Jewish Israelis. Military service shapes identity and social position, and those who express their views risk being ostracized.
“I think the war must end, I feel I participated in something bad”
The soldier stated he didn’t want his identity revealed because he feared being labeled a traitor or isolated from his community, however, he felt the need to speak out.
“I feel like I participated in something bad and I need to balance it with something good I do, by expressing my opinion, because what I participated in and continue to participate in, as a soldier and citizen of this country, torments me greatly,” he said and added: “I think the war is… something very bad happening to us and to the Palestinians, and I believe it must end.”
“I think Israeli society hardly criticizes itself and its army. Many people don’t understand what they’re agreeing to. They believe the war must happen and that we must bring back the hostages, but they don’t understand the consequences. I believe many people, if they knew exactly what’s happening, wouldn’t accept it and wouldn’t agree with it. I hope that by talking about this, we can change the way things are done,” the soldier stated in his interview.
