A GROUP of Israeli army veterans has issued a damning report of army conduct in the military campaign in Gaza, accusing the military of ordering the troops to “shoot first, ask questions later”.
The testimonies, from more than two dozen reservists who participated in the three-week military campaign which started on December 27th, 2008, were contained in a report published yesterday by the activist organisation Breaking the Silence.
Among the allegations were those of using excessive firepower and coercing Palestinian civilians to enter unsecured buildings ahead of troops as shields, in contravention of an Israeli court ruling forbidding such a policy.
Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak dismissed the allegations as “misplaced”, claiming “the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] is the most moral army in the world and operates according to the highest ethical code”.
The soldiers’ testimonies claim that the overriding priority was to avoid military casualties in order to ensure a high level of public support for the 22-day campaign, which began on December 27th in response to rocket attacks from Gaza on southern Israel.
Thousands of buildings were destroyed during the operation. The reservists claim whole streets were razed to prevent the possibility of militant sniper fire directed at advancing Israeli forces.
One soldier noted that orders disregarded the possibility of civilian casualties. “We were not instructed to shoot at everyone we saw, but we were told that from a certain distance when we approach a house, no matter who it is – even an old woman – take them down.”
Another soldier claimed that local residents were used to protect the troops. “Sometimes the force would enter while placing rifle barrels on a civilian’s shoulder, advancing into a house and using him as a human shield.
“Commanders said these were the instructions and we had to do it,” according to one of the testimonies. Other soldiers highlighted the unnecessary use of mortars and white phosphorus in built-up areas.
The testimonies, which echo earlier reports from Palestinian and international human rights groups, mark the most comprehensive criticism to date from Israeli sources over the conduct of the war, which had the backing of a large majority of the Israeli public.
The Israeli army criticised the report because it was based on “anonymous and general” testimonies, and urged the soldiers to present specific and detailed complaints which can be investigated. Military officials also complained that they were given a copy of the report less than 24 hours before publication.
Meanwhile, Israeli police have completed a long-running investigation into foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman, and consultations are taking place on whether to recommend charges of money laundering, fraud and breach of trust.
The controversial foreign minister, who heads the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party, the second largest member of the government coalition, is suspected of having laundered millions of euro and transferred cash through a company set up in his daughter’s name.
Mr Lieberman is expected to step down from office if he is indicted.