Gaza has no innocents: Soldier lifts the veil on Israeli military brutality

The soldier, who has served three tours in the Gaza Strip, made rare and chilling admissions in an interview, exposing the orders issued by Israeli commanders to commit atrocities in the region.

According to a report by Sky News, the soldier—whose identity is being withheld for fear of military repercussions—said Israeli troops were instructed to shoot anyone who entered so-called “no-go zones,” regardless of whether they posed a threat.

He explained that soldiers would often kill civilians arbitrarily, with the criteria for opening fire changing based on the moods or personal judgment of their commanders.

“The order was clear: anyone entering the restricted zone must be killed. It didn’t matter who it was. If they stepped into that area, they were considered dangerous and had to be killed.”

The soldier, who had twice been deployed to the Netzarim Corridor (a narrow strip of land from west to east Gaza designed to sever the north from the rest of the Strip and enable deeper Israeli control), admitted that they would occupy the homes of displaced Palestinian civilians and declare an imaginary perimeter around the house.

“They claimed that everyone in Gaza was aware of this invisible boundary and knew not to cross it. But how could they possibly know that?”

He recounted that anyone who crossed the imaginary line would usually be shot immediately—even a teenager riding a bicycle.

“Commanders always told us: if someone enters this zone, it means they know they shouldn’t be here—so they’re a terrorist. But I don’t think that’s true. These are poor, innocent people who simply have no choice.”

The soldier described an incident in which a Palestinian man was shot for crossing the line. Hours later, another man came to help him. Initially, the commander ordered that he be taken alive—but later reversed the order and ordered direct fire again.

He said that some commanders “easily commit war crimes and acts of brutality without facing any consequences.” Among Israeli soldiers, there is a prevailing belief that “no one in Gaza is innocent.”

“This belief is rarely challenged and is often reinforced by commanders. As a result, soldiers openly talk about massacres.”

Speaking about his time stationed in Gaza’s Shuja'iyya neighborhood, he said: “There were clearly no terrorists there. Commanders could do whatever they wanted. It was like the Wild West.”

He also pointed to the climate of censorship and suppression within Israeli society: “It’s very difficult to criticize the army or its actions in Israel. The military is tied to people’s identity and social status.”

The soldier, who fears being labeled a traitor for speaking out, said: “But I believe that if someone has done something wrong, they must try to make it right. That’s what I want to do.”

He concluded: “This war is devastating—for both us and the Palestinians. It has to end. Many people don’t really know what they’re supporting. If they saw what’s really happening, they probably wouldn’t support this war.”