Israeli soldiers confess: Civilians were targeted in Gaza

In a move that highlights internal tensions within the Israeli military, over 100 reserve officers and soldiers sent a critical letter to Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The letter, which was exposed by Israeli media outlets including Kan on Thursday (November 6), refers to disciplinary and ethical problems during the wars in Gaza and Lebanon and operations in the West Bank.

According to Kan, the signatories — many of whom are experienced officers up to the level of deputy division commanders — wrote in their letter of the “collapse of the discipline and [so-called] values of the Israeli army.”

The letter states: “Events have taken place that contradict the army’s educational principles, including the concept of ‘purity of arms’ — that is, refraining from harming civilians. During the fighting in Gaza, Judea and Samaria [the West Bank], and Lebanon, we have witnessed incidents inconsistent with the spirit of the army and with the principles on which we were trained.”

The officers stressed that such incidents have not only affected troop morale but also reduced military effectiveness. They urged Halevi to take action after the war to “restore discipline and root out behaviors inconsistent with the army’s regulations.” The letter further notes: “We are ready to cooperate in investigations to ensure that the army’s values are upheld.”

Kan did not provide further details about the content of the letter, suggesting that the Israeli military censor has only permitted the media to publish general information about it.

Although the full text of the letter has not been released, the revelation has received wide coverage in Israeli outlets such as Haaretz and The Times of Israel, sparking debate about the need for internal reforms in the army. The IDF General Staff has not issued an official response, but according to Kan, informed sources say the matter is under review.

This is not the first time Israeli soldiers have exposed crimes committed by their forces in Gaza. On June 16, 2025, several Israeli soldiers told Haaretz that their commanders had ordered them to open fire on Palestinians approaching aid distribution centers.

Earlier, in March 2025, an Israeli soldier revealed in an interview with CBS News that he had received orders to use Palestinians as human shields. He explained that civilians were forced to enter suspicious buildings first to check for explosive traps.