Haaretz: Israeli Army Commanders Gave Direct Orders to Shoot Palestinians Near Aid Centers in Gaza
DaysofPal- In a shocking report that has sparked widespread controversy, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed that senior commanders in the Israeli army issued direct orders to their soldiers to open fire on Palestinian civilians approaching humanitarian aid distribution centers in the Gaza Strip, effectively turning relief points into sites of mass killings.
According to testimonies from soldiers currently serving in Gaza, the orders were explicit: fire on anyone approaching aid areas, regardless of whether they posed a threat or were unarmed. The soldiers stressed that this was implemented as a field policy, not as isolated or exceptional behavior.
Haaretz reported that Israeli forces used medium and heavy weaponry, including machine guns, armored vehicles, and drones, in operations where the gunfire resembled a military response to an armed attack, even though the targets were starving civilians.
One soldier was quoted saying, 'We were shooting at hungry people as if we were repelling an armed assault, while they were merely trying to get food.' The report added that many of the shootings were conducted at very close range, targeting unarmed individuals, including women and the elderly.
According to the newspaper, aid distribution sites have become 'death traps,' as over 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza struggle under catastrophic humanitarian conditions, where the pursuit of food may cost one's life.
This revelation comes amid mounting international pressure on the Israeli occupation over its ongoing violations in Gaza, particularly the alleged use of starvation as a weapon of war—a practice the United Nations has described as possibly rising to the level of crimes against humanity.
While the Israeli occupation has previously justified some incidents as 'warning shots at suspected threats,' the Haaretz report undermines that narrative and points instead to a systematic policy of violent deterrence rather than civilian protection.
The report is expected to provoke strong reactions from human rights organizations and international courts, which have renewed calls for transparent and independent investigations to hold accountable those responsible for these violations, and to prevent the militarization of humanitarian aid and its transformation into a tool of repression and mass killing.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=65186
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Days of Palestine
6 hours ago
- Days of Palestine
Israeli far-right ministers oppose Gaza ceasefire, reject talks on Palestinian state
DaysofPal – Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have voiced fierce opposition to any political process that could end the war on Gaza or lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state, amid reports of high-level discussions between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former U.S. President Donald Trump. The comments come in response to reports in Israeli media that Netanyahu and Trump have reached a preliminary understanding on a plan to end the war in Gaza and broaden regional normalization agreements in exchange for initiating talks on a future Palestinian state, subject to reforms in the Palestinian Authority. Speaking to Yedioth Ahronoth, Ben-Gvir lashed out at the idea of renewed negotiations, saying, I find it hard to believe that the prime minister will repeat the mistakes of the past and enter into negotiations that could lead to the establishment of a Palestinian terrorist state or dangerous concessions.' He added, 'The people of Israel want victory, not new attempts to appease terrorism under the guise of peace,' asserting that 'only complete decisiveness [in Gaza], which includes occupation, settlement, and the imposition of sovereignty, is the real response to the Palestinian lie, not withdrawals or surrender.' Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed Ben-Gvir's rejection, particularly criticizing any normalization efforts with Arab states that might come at the cost of accepting a Palestinian state. 'Expanding the Abraham Accords is wonderful (…) but if this is a shiny cover for an existential threat that is the division of the country and the establishment of a Palestinian state twenty times the size of Gaza… then the answer is no, thank you,' he wrote on X. Smotrich further warned Prime Minister Netanyahu: 'Let it be clear that you have no mandate, not even a hint or a word, to negotiate a Palestinian state'. These statements reflect a widening rift within the Israeli government, as some coalition officials reportedly support ending the war in Gaza after more than 21 months of fighting. According to Channel 12, a senior Likud official criticized the continued military presence in Gaza, stating, 'It is impossible to deny that the public is tired of the Gaza arena… staying in Gaza is a political mistake.' While Netanyahu faces pressure from far-right ministers to maintain the current course, a growing portion of the Israeli public appears to favor a diplomatic resolution. A recent poll conducted by Walla, in partnership with the Panel For All Center, showed that 67 percent of Israelis support ending the war and reaching a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas. The survey sampled 583 Israelis, with a 4.3 percent margin of error. Walla noted, 'The public is showing greater insistence on ending the war in Gaza and signing an agreement to release Israeli detainees.' According to Israeli estimates, 51 prisoners remain in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive. In contrast, over 10,400 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, with numerous reports from both Palestinian and Israeli rights organizations citing systemic torture, starvation, and medical neglect that have led to the deaths of several detainees. Despite growing domestic fatigue over the war, Netanyahu's Likud party has reportedly gained support due to recent escalations with Iran. If elections were held today, the party would gain four seats, bringing its total to 26 in the 120-member Knesset, according to Walla. Netanyahu, who continues to face international legal scrutiny, has thus far rebuffed all calls for early elections. Critics accuse him of prolonging the war in Gaza to entrench his political power. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
6 hours ago
- Days of Palestine
UN: Israel forcing West Bank Palestinians from homes in systematic displacement drive
DaysofPal – United Nations agencies have sounded the alarm over a sharp escalation in Israeli measures aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, warning that such actions may amount to war crimes under international law. In its latest situation report, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) revealed that Israeli military authorities have issued notices threatening to demolish every structure in 13 Palestinian communities in Masafer Yatta, a rural area in the South Hebron Hills designated by Israel as 'Firing Zone 918.' If carried out, the demolitions would forcibly displace at least 1,200 Palestinians, including more than 500 children. 'These communities are at imminent risk of forced displacement,' OCHA warned. The UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory echoed this assessment, stating that Israeli authorities are 'accelerating measures aimed at forcibly displacing large numbers of Palestinians from long-established towns and communities.' It highlighted a June 18 decision by the Planning Subcommittee of Israel's Civil Administration to reject all Palestinian building permit requests in Masafer Yatta, using the pretext that the land is required for military training. 'The latest decision by the Israeli Civil Administration paves the way for the Israeli army to demolish existing structures and buildings in the area and expel nearly 1,200 Palestinians who have lived there for decades,' the Human Rights Office said. 'This displacement constitutes forced deportation and is a war crime and could amount to a crime against humanity if committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population.' The UN also noted that Israeli settlers from illegal outposts within the same 'firing zone', yet not subject to eviction orders, have escalated their daily attacks on Palestinians, including women, children, and the elderly, as part of efforts to coerce residents into leaving. Between October 7, 2023, and May 31, 2025, OCHA reported that 6,463 Palestinians were forcibly displaced due to Israeli demolitions. An additional 2,200 were displaced by settler violence and movement restrictions. These figures do not include the approximately 40,000 Palestinians driven from refugee camps in Jenin and Tulkarem amid intensified Israeli military operations since January 2025. The report also revealed that, in just ten days from June 13 to 23, Israeli soldiers temporarily took over 240 Palestinian homes, converting them into military outposts or interrogation centers. 'The owners were either forcibly evicted or detained,' OCHA stated. Meanwhile, in Tulkarem and the Nur Shams refugee camps, nearly 100 structures—mostly residential homes—were demolished. In East Jerusalem, nearly 320 residents across three communities face imminent eviction or demolition. East Jerusalem Evictions and Expanding Settlements The UN Human Rights Office further highlighted a pattern of discriminatory evictions in East Jerusalem. On June 16 and 22, Israel's Supreme Court upheld the eviction of five Palestinian families, comprising 37 individuals, from the Batn al-Hawa neighborhood of Silwan. The evictions were based on Israeli laws that permit Jewish claims to pre-1948 properties while denying Palestinians similar legal recourse. 'These evictions are part of a systematic campaign by the Israeli state and settler organizations targeting Palestinian neighborhoods to seize Palestinian homes and expand Jewish settlements,' the Human Rights Office said. In another case, the Israel Land Authority issued eviction orders on June 11 targeting homes in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Um Tuba, affecting 150 Palestinians. The land is claimed by the Jewish National Fund under an Israeli land registration process. The Human Rights Office cited a June 10 report indicating that the Jerusalem Municipality had issued a demolition order for the entire village of Al-Nu'man near Bethlehem, home to 150 Palestinians. The village, encircled by the separation wall and absorbed into Jerusalem's municipal boundaries, has been effectively cut off from both the city and the rest of the West Bank. Most residents have been denied Jerusalem ID cards, leaving them without access to essential services. 'These demolition orders appear to be a further step in Israel's efforts to create a coercive environment that pushes Palestinians to leave and consolidates the annexation of land,' the UN office concluded. International law prohibits the forced displacement of protected populations in occupied territories, the destruction of private property, and the annexation of land. The International Court of Justice reaffirmed these principles in its advisory opinion issued in July 2024, which condemned Israel's policies in the occupied Palestinian territory. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
6 hours ago
- Days of Palestine
Delay in Suspending Partnership with Israel Exposes European Double Standards
DaysofPal — The European Council's continued delay in suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement has drawn widespread criticism and serves as a stark illustration of the European Union's double standards when it comes to addressing human rights violations, particularly in light of the ongoing Israeli campaign in the Gaza Strip, widely described as genocidal. After last Thursday's EU summit, the final statement made no mention of sanctions or concrete actions against Israel, despite growing demands from several member states. Instead, EU foreign ministers were tasked with merely 'continuing to assess Israeli compliance' with the terms of the agreement. The EU-Israel Association Agreement, signed in 2000, is explicitly based on mutual respect for human rights and democratic values—principles that many argue are being flagrantly violated in Gaza. Internal Divisions Undermine Accountability According to political affairs analyst Dr. Lina Al-Tabbal, internal divisions within the EU remain a significant obstacle to any unified stance on Israel's actions. In an interview with Palestine Online, Al-Tabbal noted that some member states—most notably Germany, Hungary, Austria, and the Netherlands—either oppose sanctions outright or adopt cautious, non-committal positions, effectively shielding Israel from serious European reproach. Germany, she explained, frames its unwavering support for Israel as a moral imperative rooted in its historical responsibility for the Holocaust. Hungary, under Viktor Orbán, has repeatedly blocked EU measures perceived as critical of the Israeli government, aligning itself closely with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Austria and the Netherlands, while less vocal, continue to act as moderating forces, resisting calls for punitive action. In contrast, member states such as Ireland, Spain, Belgium, and Slovenia have advocated for stronger measures, including recognition of Palestinian statehood and targeted sanctions. France and Italy occupy a middle ground, hesitant to lead but unwilling to fully back Israel uncritically. A Case Study in Double Standards Fatima Al-Zahraa Saad Al-Din, an expert in European affairs, described the summit's outcome as a 'case study in European double standards.' She noted the contradiction between the EU's swift imposition of sanctions against Russia for its war in Ukraine and its silence in the face of widespread atrocities in Gaza, despite well-documented evidence of mass civilian casualties, forced displacement, and starvation. 'If international agreements and human rights clauses are not enforced in times of clear violations, then what purpose do they serve?' she asked. Al-Din further explained that geopolitical considerations, strategic alliances, and historical guilt have created an environment where many EU countries treat Israel as an exception, willing to overlook even the most egregious human rights abuses to maintain diplomatic and economic ties. Disappointment with Predictable Inaction 'We didn't expect groundbreaking decisions from the EU summit,' Al-Din concluded. 'But at the very least, we hoped for a clear condemnation of a genocide that has inflicted unimaginable suffering on over 2.3 million Palestinians.' This inaction in Europe unfolds amid mounting international calls for accountability and humanitarian intervention. As the crisis in Gaza enters its twentieth month, more than 54,000 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed or injured. The blockade, famine, and unrelenting airstrikes continue unabated. By continuing to uphold its partnership with Israel while ignoring clear violations of the Association Agreement's human rights provisions, the EU risks eroding its credibility as a champion of international law and human dignity. The silence, critics say, is not just disappointing—it is complicit.
