israeli soldiers

Israeli soldiers from the 8717 Battalion of the Givati Brigade operating in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, December 28, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

‘I’m bored, so I shoot’: The Israeli army’s approval of free-for-all violence in Gaza

Israeli soldiers describe the near-total absence of firing regulations in the Gaza war, with troops shooting as they please, setting homes ablaze, and leaving corpses on the streets — all with their commanders’ permission.

By Oren Ziv July 8, 2024

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi during a tour near the border with Lebanon, northern Israel, March 16, 2023. (David Cohen/Flash90)

Israel’s security brass are defending the High Court to save themselves

Israel's top court has consistently shielded soldiers from standing trial. Now they fear the judicial overhaul could expose them to prosecution overseas.

By Sebastian Ben Daniel (John Brown) September 11, 2023

Israeli border policemen violently arrest a Palestinian protester during clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters in north Ramallah, near the Beit El checkpoint, occupied West Bank, December 22, 2017. (Oren Ziv/Activestills)

The odds of a violent Israeli soldier facing charges? Under 1 percent

New data shows how the Israeli army's complaints mechanism serves as a facade of accountability when it comes to soldiers who harm Palestinians.

By Dan Owen December 29, 2022

Latest

An Israeli Border Police officer points his weapon at journalists and Palestinian paramedics during clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters in north Ramallah, near the Beit El checkpoint, occupied West Bank, December 22, 2017. (Oren Ziv/Activestills)

The rebellion of Israel’s second army

Outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi hands over to his successor a ‘policing army’ that is more autonomous, settler-led, and lethal than ever.

By Yagil Levy December 26, 2022

Palestinian peace activist Osama Iliwat (left) seen in the village of Jeb al-Deeb, south of Bethlehem in the West Bank. (Courtesy of Combatants for Peace)

Palestinian peace activist denied entry to U.S. for speaking tour

Osama Iliwat was supposed to speak to synagogues, churches, and universities across the United States about the power of nonviolence and bringing an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Instead he was sent back to Palestine. A Palestinian peace activist was denied entry to the United States last week after being extensively questioned by American border…

By Edo Konrad March 4, 2019

Palestinians demonstrate near Khan Yunis by the border fence between Israel and the southern Gaza Strip on March 09, 2018. Photo by Abed Rahim Khatib/ Flash90

B’Tselem to Israeli soldiers: Refuse orders to shoot Gaza protesters

Israeli soldiers have a legal obligation to refuse manifestly illegal orders. In a new campaign, the Israeli human rights group says shooting unarmed civilian protesters is just that — unmistakably and patently illegal. Israeli human rights group B’Tselem will launch a campaign on Thursday urging Israeli soldiers to refuse orders to open fire on unarmed…

By Edo Konrad April 4, 2018

Screenshot of Abdel Fattah Abdel Nabi being shot by an Israeli sniper.

Videos show Israeli soldiers sniping unarmed protesters in Gaza

Attempts to retroactively portray Friday’s demonstrators as Hamas militants, stone-throwers, or human shields serves only one purpose: to quiet the Israeli conscience. The Israeli army and Israel’s hasbara apparatus wasted no time blaming the 16 Palestinians killed by Israeli army snipers last Friday for their own deaths. Infographics were released within hours. Talking points distributed. Israel was defending its…

By Edo Konrad April 1, 2018

Palestinians clash with Israeli soldiers in Al-Fawwar refugee camp, south of the West Bank city of Hebron, December 31, 2017. (Wisam Hashlamoun/Flash90)

As long as occupation exists, soldiers will continue to speak out

We must make our voices heard sharply and clearly, so that every person who served in the occupied territories will know that speaking out is not merely an option — it is a moral duty. By Avner Gvaryahu Like many who served alongside me, I preferred to remain silent. I preferred to forget, not to speak…

By +972 Magazine January 26, 2018

Soldiers and relatives mourn at the grave of Israeli Sergeant Banaya Rubel during his funeral on July 20, 2014 in Holon, Israel. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

An open letter to a future Israeli soldier

I honestly believe you want the best for this country, but if you care about the Israeli society, there are other ways to make a difference. Joining the IDF only perpetuates the status quo — one that is bad for Israel and much worse for Palestinians. By Ido Liven Congratulations. You are 18 years old today.…

By +972 Magazine March 19, 2017

Israeli soldiers seen moments before attacking B'Tselem volunteer Ahmad Ziyada and his brother Mahmoud. (Screenshot)

WATCH: Israeli soldiers arrest Palestinian for filming them

Soldiers arrest a Palestinian man before shooting his brother in the knee with a rubber bullet. Israeli soldiers arrested a Palestinian volunteer with an Israeli human rights organization before shooting his brother in the knee with a rubber bullet earlier this month. The incident took place on February 10 in the West Bank village of…

By Edo Konrad February 20, 2017

A soldier from the Nahal Infantry Brigade at the end of a training exercise in the Negev, Israel, February 16, 2015. (Evan Lang & Adi James Brown, IDF Spokesperson's Unit/CC 2.0)

The problem with Israel’s heroism addiction

The flip side of Israel’s need for heroes created in uniform, weapon in hand, is the urge to preserve the ideals associated with them and to shield them from criticism — the ramifications of which have become disturbingly clear in the case of Elor Azaria. “A nation without heroes is a house without doors.” So says the…

By Natasha Roth-Rowland January 13, 2017

Breaking the Silence director Yuli Novak speaks during a protest against right-wing incitement, central Tel Aviv, December 19, 2015. (photo: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

‘Proud to be outside the consensus, until the occupation ends’

Under public pressure, Ben-Gurion University pulled a prize from Breaking the Silence, a group of Israeli soldiers who talk publicly about what it means to serve in an occupying army. The group is ‘outside the consensus,’ the university’s president explained. But if occupation is the consensus, Breaking the Silence says it is proud to be on…

By +972 Magazine November 7, 2016

African asylum seekers rally at Levinsky Park in South Tel Aviv, on Sunday, February 2, 2014. Hundreds of asylum seekers are spending the night in the park in a protest against Israel's refusal to grant them refugee status and the opening of 'Holot', the new detention facility in the country's south. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

Keep Israel’s militarism away from asylum seeker children

Contrary to what some activists claim, Defense Minister Liberman’s decision to forbid soldiers from volunteering with children of asylum seekers is a good one. By Dror Mizrachi Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman caused controversy this week when he acquiesced to requests by activists in south Tel Aviv and ordered the IDF chief of staff to stop soldiers…

By +972 Magazine August 18, 2016