An Israeli military college has printed damning soldiers' accounts of the killing of civilians and vandalism during recent operations in Gaza.
One account tells of a sniper killing a mother and children at close range whom troops had told to leave their home.
Another speaker at the seminar described what he saw as the "cold blooded murder" of a Palestinian woman.
The army has defended its conduct during the Gaza offensive but said it would investigate the testimonies.
The Israeli army has said it will investigate the soldiers' accounts.
The testimonies were published by the military academy at Oranim College. Graduates of the academy, who had served in Gaza, were speaking to new recruits at a seminar.
Soldier testimony
"[The testimonies] conveyed an atmosphere in which one feels entitled to use unrestricted force against Palestinians," academy director Dany Zamir told public radio.
Heavy civilian casualties during the three-week operation which ended in the blockaded coastal strip on 18 January provoked an international outcry.
Correspondents say the testimonies undermine Israel's claims that troops took care to protect non-combatants and accusations that Hamas militants were responsible for putting civilians into harm's way.
'Less important'
The Palestinian woman and two of her children were allegedly shot after they misunderstood instructions about which way to walk having been ordered out of their home by troops.
"The climate in general... I don't know how to describe it.... the lives of Palestinians, let's say, are much, much less important than the lives of our soldiers," an infantry squad leader is quoted saying.
In another cited case, a commander ordered troops to kill an elderly woman walking on a road, even though she was easily identifiable and clearly not a threat.
Testimonies, which were given by combat pilots and infantry soldiers, also included allegations of unnecessary destruction of Palestinian property.
"We would throw everything out of the windows to make room and order. Everything... Refrigerators, plates, furniture. The order was to throw all of the house's contents outside," a soldier said.
One non-commissioned officer related at the seminar that an old woman crossing a main road was shot by soldiers.
"I don't know whether she was suspicious, not suspicious, I don't know her story… I do know that my officer sent people to the roof in order to take her out… It was cold-blooded murder," he said.
The transcript of the session for the college's Yitzhak Rabin pre-military course, which was held last month, appeared in a newsletter published by the academy.
Israeli human rights groups have criticised the military for failing to properly investigate violations of the laws of war in Gaza despite plenty of evidence of possible war crimes.
'Moral army'
The soldiers' testimonies also reportedly told of an unusually high intervention by military and non-military rabbis, who circulated pamphlets describing the war in religious terminology.
"All the articles had one clear message," one soldier said. "We are the people of Israel, we arrived in the country almost by miracle, now we need to fight to uproot the gentiles who interfere with re-conquering the Holy Land."
"Many soldiers' feelings were that this was a war of religion," he added.
Defence Minister Ehud Barak told Israel Radio that the findings would be examined seriously.
"I still say we have the most moral army in the world. Of course there may be exceptions but I have absolutely no doubt this will be inspected on a case-by-case basis," he said.
Medical authorities say more than 1,300 Palestinians were killed during Israel's 22-day operation, including some 440 children, 110 women, and dozens of elderly people.
The stated aim was to curb rocket and mortar fire by militants from Gaza. Thirteen Israelis, including three civilians were killed.
6 comments:
there was no doubt about it anyway....and they make such and issue of jihad...
I'm no Israeli synpathiser, but note that their own people are revealing the atrocities committed by Israeli soldiers.
I have also read reports originating from Israle how the USA MSM misreport and understate Palestinian civilian adult and childrens' deaths while overstating the corresponding figures foe Israelis. The hypocrisy of many USA MSM is truly detestable!!
My point is it takes to go to war and many atrocities have also been committed by Hamas and Hisbollah as well. But our and Arab sources keep pretty quiet about it.
When these matters are out in the open like in Israel, we then have more hope that a cover up will not be mounted and it is 1 step in the right direction to prevention and profileration.
I do not recognize the concept of Jihad unless it means complete self-defence!
http://donplaypuks.blogspot.com
When there is an elephant in your room, basically..unless you are ready to kill it and then have it removed from your room without wasting your room to a wreck...the best advise would be to do nothing!!!
You shoot rockets, you get the response of a mad man. So stop complaining!
Under the circumstance it is suicidal for Hamas invitation to the Israeli Defence Forces by shooting rockets.
In Malaysia just 20 odd people trying to do a candle light vigil draws a horde of police and FRU guys fully armed to attack and brutalise. Just one killing of a detained suspect in custody and they use the entire machinery to cover it up.
At the end of the day, we are all capable of any kind of brutality. Some very nice people in Malaysia who just want to go on living a life without disruption to their daily movements even condemn the demonstrations and think Kugan deserves what he got.
At the end of the day the cultural and civil height a society reaches will have something to do with how transparent the society can be to the outside world. Even though embarrassing the Israelis have shown somethings that we can learn from. Here these kinds of revelations might land you in prison or be charged with lying or criminal defamation or sedition. Just ask Irene Fernadez.
And here, your peers have found you guilty of corruption and yet you are allowed to remain the Menteri Besar. Over there allegations only so far. No charges laid out yet, and even then a President resigned and more recently Olmert too had to give in to early departure from office.
Yes the Gaza was was cruel. Yes a lot of civilians were targeted and killed. Condemnation is in order.
But are we, Malaysians, qualified to criticise or condemn? Our backyard stinks to kingdom come. Let us qualify first before we give any opinion on what has happened in Gaza.
Old Fart
Stirring knockout stuff!!
Our frontyard stinks too!!
If the MACC were investigating this, it will probably be "NFA".
Ketuanan Melayu and Zionism can be bosom buddies. Then maybe we can buy submarines from Israel, they are a major arms developer if not outright exporter.
But maybe not; it seems under Zionist regime, corruption is a no-no.
Over to you, commision chasing UMNO President!
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