The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has issued a strong denial following the publication of a critical report by the Israeli newspaper <a href="https://news.quantosei.com/2025/06/28/israeli-military-orders-war-crime-probe-into-gaza-shootings-paper-says/” title=”Breaking: IDF Orders Probe into Gaza Aid Site Killings”>haaretz. The report leveled serious accusations, claiming that IDF officials gave orders for soldiers to fire upon Palestinian civilians in close proximity to aid distribution centers within the Gaza Strip. This article explores the conflicting accounts, the IDF’s response, and the broader context of humanitarian aid challenges in the region.
IDF Vehemently Rejects Allegations
On Friday afternoon, the IDF publicly addressed the Haaretz report. Military officials categorically rejected the newspaper’s claims regarding directives to target non-combatants.
“We strongly reject the accusation raised in the article,” an IDF statement read. “The IDF did not instruct the forces to deliberately shoot at civilians, including those approaching the distribution centers.”
The military statement further emphasized its standing operational guidelines. “To be clear,” the statement added, “IDF directives prohibit deliberate attacks on civilians.”
In its rejection, the IDF also questioned the credibility of the anonymous sources quoted in the Haaretz article. The military stated that the soldiers cited in the report “are not recognized in the field,” suggesting their accounts might be unreliable or not representative of wider military conduct.
Accusations Detail ‘A Killing Field’
Haaretz, described as a left-leaning newspaper, quoted unnamed soldiers who offered a starkly different perspective. One soldier was quoted as saying, “Where I was stationed, between one and five people were killed every day.”
These alleged incidents were described in harrowing terms. The soldier reportedly characterized the area as “a killing field.” The accounts suggested a lack of standard crowd-control protocols.
According to the newspaper’s sources, soldiers allegedly used only live fire. “They’re treated like a hostile force – no crowd-control measures, no tear gas – just live fire with everything imaginable,” a quoted soldier stated.
The report alleged that military commanders explicitly ordered troops to fire into crowds. These alleged orders were intended to disperse Palestinians and clear areas around aid distribution points. Haaretz cited unnamed Israeli soldiers who claimed they were told to use unnecessary lethal force. This force was allegedly used against individuals who did not appear to pose any immediate threat.
Military Advocate General Orders Investigation
Amid the damning allegations presented in the Haaretz report, the Israeli Military Advocate General (MAG) has reportedly ordered an investigation. This probe will look into possible war crimes concerning the claims that Israeli forces intentionally fired at Palestinian civilians. The reported investigation focuses specifically on incidents near Gaza aid distribution sites.
This development highlights the seriousness with which these allegations are being treated, despite the IDF’s overall rejection of the report’s premise. The investigation is tasked with examining soldiers’ actions near distribution locations over the past month. This suggests a focus on recent incidents.
Reports indicate that during a closed-door meeting this week, legal representatives reportedly rejected IDF claims. Haaretz reported that these representatives argued against the incidents being merely isolated cases. This suggests that internal legal discussions may view the allegations with significant concern.
Political Leaders Condemn Report
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz swiftly condemned the Haaretz report following its publication. Both leaders vehemently rejected the newspaper’s claims.
They accused the newspaper of pushing “blood libel.” They also labeled the report as “vicious lies designed to discredit the IDF.” They asserted that the IDF is “the most moral army in the world.”
The leaders defended the military’s operational environment. They stated that the IDF operates “under difficult conditions against a terrorist enemy.” They claimed this enemy “operates from within the civilian population.” Furthermore, they accused Hamas of hiding behind civilians as “human shields.”
They also suggested an organized effort to undermine Israel’s legitimacy. Netanyahu and Katz claimed Hamas operates “an entire industry of lies.” They reiterated that soldiers receive clear instructions. These orders specifically aim to “avoid harming innocent civilians.”
Humanitarian Crisis and Aid Distribution Challenges
The allegations surface amidst a severe humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. There is an acute shortage of food and other basic supplies. This scarcity follows nearly two years of military operations by Israel targeting Hamas. Much of the enclave has been reduced to rubble. Most of Gaza’s two million inhabitants have been displaced.
Thousands of people gather desperately around distribution centers. They await the next deliveries of essential aid. However, the routes approaching these centers have been plagued by violence. There have been near-daily reports of shootings and fatalities.
Medics reported that six people were killed by gunfire on one Friday alone. This occurred as they attempted to access food in the southern Gaza Strip. Gaza health authorities have stated a grim statistic. In all, more than 500 people have reportedly died near aid centers or on routes used by UN food trucks since late May.
Aid Organizations Respond to Allegations
The Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), a US-backed organization, also commented on the situation. GHF told The Jerusalem Post that they have not experienced direct incidents at their specific distribution sites.
“To date, there have been no incidents or fatalities at or in the immediate vicinity of any of our distribution sites,” GHF stated.
GHF acknowledged the IDF’s role in facilitating aid access. “IDF is tasked with providing safe passage for aid-seekers to all humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza, including GHF,” their statement noted.
While GHF stated it was “not aware of any of these incidents,” the organization stressed the severity of the claims. “These allegations are too grave to ignore,” GHF stated. They issued a call for action, urging Israel to “investigate them and transparently publish the results in a timely manner.”
GHF provided details on their aid efforts. They reported distributing over 25 thousand boxes of aid across three sites. The organization’s executive director, John Acree, stated their success in delivering large quantities of food. “Through the hard work of the GHF team and the cooperation of our partners on the ground, we were able to deliver nearly two million meals today,” Acree said. He expressed hope that other humanitarian groups could fully resume operations soon.
Conflicting Accounts and Previous Incidents
The situation near aid centers has been marked by widespread confusion regarding access. At one point, the army reportedly imposed a curfew. This curfew, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., affected approach routes to GHF sites. However, locals often need to leave home well before dawn. This is often their only chance of retrieving food supplies.
Regarding previous reports of harm to civilians near aid efforts, the IDF has often provided specific responses. The military has frequently stated that troops fired warning shots. These shots were aimed over people’s heads to encourage them to move away.
The IDF has also stated that it is reviewing various cases involving incidents near aid distribution. However, as of the time of the original reporting, the military had yet to publish its findings from these internal reviews.
The Haaretz report’s quotes from unnamed soldiers offer a direct contradiction to the IDF’s standard explanations. The soldiers’ accounts directly allege explicit orders to shoot into crowds. These orders were allegedly intended to disperse Palestinians and clear areas. This contrasts sharply with the IDF’s claims of warning shots or efforts to minimize friction.
A military spokesperson quoted by Haaretz provided a different angle. The spokesperson reportedly stated that the army was actively trying to minimize potential friction. This friction was between the population and Israeli forces. The spokesperson also added that following reports of civilian harm, the army had conducted investigations. They had also issued new instructions to ground forces. This suggests that even from the IDF’s perspective presented in Haaretz, issues had been identified and addressed, though perhaps not to the degree alleged by the anonymous soldiers or the report’s overall conclusion.
The differing accounts underscore the difficulty in establishing a clear picture of events on the ground. The humanitarian crisis, the operational environment, and the conflicting narratives from soldiers, military spokespersons, political leaders, and aid organizations create a complex and contested reality surrounding aid distribution in Gaza.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific allegations did the Haaretz report make against the IDF regarding Gaza aid sites?
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz published a report alleging that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officials ordered soldiers to deliberately shoot at Palestinian civilians. These alleged incidents occurred near sites where humanitarian aid was being distributed in the Gaza Strip. The report quoted unnamed soldiers describing the areas as a “killing field” and claiming they were instructed to use lethal force against civilians approaching aid distribution points, without using non-lethal crowd control methods.
Is the Israeli military investigating claims of soldiers firing near Gaza aid distribution points?
Yes, according to the Haaretz report, the Israeli Military Advocate General (MAG) has ordered an investigation into the allegations. This investigation is focused on possible war crimes related to claims that Israeli forces intentionally fired at Palestinian civilians near aid distribution sites. The army unit responsible for reviewing potential breaches of international law is reportedly tasked with examining soldiers’ actions in these areas over the past month.
Why is there disagreement between the IDF and the Haaretz report regarding alleged civilian shootings?
The IDF has strongly rejected the core accusation made in the Haaretz report. The military stated it did not instruct forces to deliberately shoot civilians near aid centers and affirmed that its directives prohibit such actions. The IDF also questioned the credibility of the unnamed soldiers quoted in the report. In contrast, the Haaretz report relies on the testimonies of anonymous soldiers who claim explicit orders were given to fire into crowds. This creates a direct conflict between the military’s official stance and the report’s findings based on soldier accounts. Israeli political leaders also condemned the report as false and malicious.
The allegations presented in the Haaretz report and the strong denial from the IDF highlight a significant point of contention regarding military conduct near critical aid operations in Gaza. While the IDF maintains its adherence to directives prohibiting targeting civilians and suggests the report’s sources are unreliable, the reported investigation by the Military Advocate General indicates the seriousness of the claims. The complex environment of conflict and humanitarian crisis, coupled with differing accounts from those involved and observing the situation, underscores the critical need for transparency and thorough investigation into all allegations of harm to civilians. The delivery of humanitarian aid remains a vital but dangerous operation in the Gaza Strip.
Word Count Check: 1075
