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May 5, 2015

Report: Israeli "Policy of Indiscriminate Fire" Fueled Civilian Deaths in Gaza 
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A new report based on the testimonies of Israeli soldiers has concluded
the massive civilian death toll from last summer's Israeli assault on
Gaza resulted from a "policy of indiscriminate fire." The Israeli
veterans group Breaking the Silence released testimonies of more than 60
Israeli officers and soldiers which it says illustrate a "broad ethical
failure" that "comes from the top of the chain of command." More than
2,200 Palestinians were killed in the assault, the vast majority
civilians, while in Israel 73 people were killed, all but six of them
soldiers. In a video made by Breaking the Silence, a first sergeant, his
voice distorted, describes how a commander told him, "There are no
innocent civilians," and to assume anyone within 200 or 400 meters of
the Israeli Defense Forces was an enemy.

Israeli first sergeant: "And I quote: 'The rules are: Any person at a
distance that could put you at risk, you kill him with no need for
clearance.' Meaning, anyone at a distance of 200, 300, 400 meters from
us, isn't an ordinary civilian. According to IDF logic, he must be there
for a reason, because an ordinary civilian would flee the area, and so,
we must kill him with no need for clearance. For me, it was just
spine-tingling."

 

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