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Netanyahu rejects reports of military targeting civilians at Gaza aid distribution points
The allegations followed repeated reports by eyewitnesses and local authorities over recent weeks of deadly incidents around aid distribution centres in the territory, where Israeli forces are battling Hamas militants read more
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday dismissed a report alleging that military commanders instructed soldiers to open fire on Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid in Gaza.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz, known for its left-leaning stance, cited anonymous soldiers who claimed they were told to fire at crowds near aid distribution centers to disperse them, even in the absence of an immediate threat.
These claims come amid multiple reports in recent weeks from eyewitnesses and local officials about deadly incidents occurring around aid distribution points in the region, where Israeli forces are engaged in ongoing operations against Hamas.
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According to Haaretz, the military advocate general—the top legal authority within the Israeli military—has called for an investigation into what were described as 'suspected war crimes' at aid sites.
When contacted by AFP, the Israeli military declined to comment specifically on that allegation.
Netanyahu said in a joint statement with Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel 'absolutely rejects the contemptible blood libels' and 'malicious falsehoods' in the Haaretz article.
The military said in a separate statement that it 'did not instruct the forces to deliberately shoot at civilians, including those approaching the distribution centres'.
It added that Israeli military 'directives prohibit deliberate attacks on civilians.'
After more than 20 months of devastating conflict, rights groups say Gaza's population of more than two million faces famine-like conditions.
The health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza says more than 500 people have been killed near aid centres since late May, when a new US- and Israeli-backed foundation began distributing aid.
The privately run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation denies that deadly incidents have occurred in the immediate vicinity of its aid points.
Netanyahu and Katz added in their statement: 'The soldiers of the (Israeli military) receive clear orders to avoid harming innocents – and operate accordingly.'
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