Eyewitnesses tell harrowing tale of Israeli atrocities in Gaza, describing war crimes and dehumanizing treatment of civilians.
A new documentary, Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel's War, aired on ITV last week, shedding light on the suffering experienced by Palestinians during the sustained conflict with Israel. The film features testimonies from Israeli soldiers who served in Gaza, many of whom described feeling ashamed of their involvement in what they acknowledge is a genocide.
"We're constantly told that we can do anything," said one soldier, whose name has not been released. "Not out of revenge, but just because we can." This chilling attitude is reflected in the actions of soldiers who spoke of routine violence and destruction, including burning Palestinian homes and bulldozing buildings.
The Israeli military's policies were found to be utterly disregardful for human life. The use of human shields was a regular occurrence, with Palestinians being used as living bombs by Israeli forces to hunt down suspected Hamas militants. Soldiers described the gruesome practice, where civilians would be strapped to their phones to explore suspected hideouts remotely.
A senior officer instructed his soldiers that "there's no such thing as means, intent and ability in Gaza." Any Palestinian caught walking near an Israeli-controlled area was considered a threat, regardless of any evidence they may have provided. Such an approach is characteristic of the war crimes committed by Israel during its two-year occupation of Gaza.
One soldier explained how Israeli forces used drones to kill Palestinians from the safety of their tanks. He described sitting in a basement, half-dressed, controlling the drone and executing Palestinian civilians remotely. "Any life that was not Israeli meant little," another soldier said, highlighting the callous disregard for human life displayed by Israel during its occupation.
The scale of destruction is staggering, with 92% of Gaza's housing stock destroyed or damaged. At least 1.9 million Palestinians were displaced, and all institutions, including universities and hospitals, were targeted for destruction.
A rabbinical judge who participated in the occupation boasted on social media about his involvement in demolishing Palestinian homes and bragged that he had helped flatten entire villages. His actions are a stark example of the impunity displayed by Israeli officials and soldiers involved in the conflict.
The documentary serves as a reminder that Israel's actions in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 69,000 Palestinians and injured hundreds of thousands more. The full extent of the damage inflicted on civilians may never be fully known, but it is clear that those responsible for these atrocities will never face justice while they enjoy impunity.
A senior Israeli soldier described how his soldiers were told to disregard international law, stating "soldiers don't need to know about international law, just the [Israeli military] spirit." This apathy towards human rights and basic decency will only serve as a chilling reminder of what can happen when those in power are given a license to kill and destroy with impunity.
As one soldier said, "We've destroyed a society. You don't have to kill them one by one to destroy every sign of the society that once existed there." The legacy of this occupation will continue to haunt Israel for years to come, as does the shame of being complicit in such atrocities.
A new documentary, Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel's War, aired on ITV last week, shedding light on the suffering experienced by Palestinians during the sustained conflict with Israel. The film features testimonies from Israeli soldiers who served in Gaza, many of whom described feeling ashamed of their involvement in what they acknowledge is a genocide.
"We're constantly told that we can do anything," said one soldier, whose name has not been released. "Not out of revenge, but just because we can." This chilling attitude is reflected in the actions of soldiers who spoke of routine violence and destruction, including burning Palestinian homes and bulldozing buildings.
The Israeli military's policies were found to be utterly disregardful for human life. The use of human shields was a regular occurrence, with Palestinians being used as living bombs by Israeli forces to hunt down suspected Hamas militants. Soldiers described the gruesome practice, where civilians would be strapped to their phones to explore suspected hideouts remotely.
A senior officer instructed his soldiers that "there's no such thing as means, intent and ability in Gaza." Any Palestinian caught walking near an Israeli-controlled area was considered a threat, regardless of any evidence they may have provided. Such an approach is characteristic of the war crimes committed by Israel during its two-year occupation of Gaza.
One soldier explained how Israeli forces used drones to kill Palestinians from the safety of their tanks. He described sitting in a basement, half-dressed, controlling the drone and executing Palestinian civilians remotely. "Any life that was not Israeli meant little," another soldier said, highlighting the callous disregard for human life displayed by Israel during its occupation.
The scale of destruction is staggering, with 92% of Gaza's housing stock destroyed or damaged. At least 1.9 million Palestinians were displaced, and all institutions, including universities and hospitals, were targeted for destruction.
A rabbinical judge who participated in the occupation boasted on social media about his involvement in demolishing Palestinian homes and bragged that he had helped flatten entire villages. His actions are a stark example of the impunity displayed by Israeli officials and soldiers involved in the conflict.
The documentary serves as a reminder that Israel's actions in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 69,000 Palestinians and injured hundreds of thousands more. The full extent of the damage inflicted on civilians may never be fully known, but it is clear that those responsible for these atrocities will never face justice while they enjoy impunity.
A senior Israeli soldier described how his soldiers were told to disregard international law, stating "soldiers don't need to know about international law, just the [Israeli military] spirit." This apathy towards human rights and basic decency will only serve as a chilling reminder of what can happen when those in power are given a license to kill and destroy with impunity.
As one soldier said, "We've destroyed a society. You don't have to kill them one by one to destroy every sign of the society that once existed there." The legacy of this occupation will continue to haunt Israel for years to come, as does the shame of being complicit in such atrocities.
. i mean, 92% of their housing stock destroyed or damaged? that's just insane 
. and the way they were treated like human shields, used as living bombs... it's just horrific 
.
. "we can do anything" is like their motto or something 
. and the way they talk about disregarding international law and basically getting a free pass to kill and destroy... it's just disgusting 
.
. which is why this doc is so important, it sheds light on the atrocities that were committed and might just make people realize what's been going on for years 
.
. how can one nation be so cruel to another? 
I think that's where our real shame lies, not just for what they've done, but for what we're all complicit in by turning a blind eye... it's like, how can we say we have empathy when we can't even acknowledge the pain of others? 
. It's chilling to hear testimonies from soldiers who acknowledge their involvement in what they consider a genocide, yet feel pressured to conform to a culture of disregard for human life 
. The fact that senior officers are willing to ignore international law and basic decency is alarming 
.
. The displacement of over 1.9 million Palestinians is a tragedy that may never be fully known 
.
. I mean, why would you be ashamed of following orders? And those soldiers who said "any life that was not Israeli meant little" just sound like normal soldiers doing their job 
. I don't get the big deal about this war crime thingy... it's just a fact of war 
. I don't think Israel's gonna face justice for this anytime soon... it's like they're getting away with murder 
.
. And the fact that there are still those in power who think they can get away with it, while enjoying impunity... it's just so frustrating 
.