In addition to the widespread killing of Palestinian civilians and the terrible destruction carried out by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip in the last four months of the war, the phenomenon of destroying buildings from within and looting their contents is widespread among its forces. Nahum Barnea, a political analyst at Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, confirmed today, Friday, that the phenomenon of looting is not new, but rather an “ancient heritage” among the soldiers.

Barnea quoted a doctor in one of the reserve brigades in the paratroopers, who was in the Gaza Strip for two months and recently ended his service, as his testimony about the practices of the Israeli army forces during the ground invasion, which did not stop at looting operations only, but also included cold-blooded field executions.

The doctor wrote to Barnea, “I will start with an area that they did not discuss much, which is values during the fighting, or, in my view, the values of Israeli society are being tested.

I noted to my regret that feelings of anger and the desire for revenge for the horrific events of October 7 led to unrest in several areas.

The military doctor added, “The looting operations are almost institutionalized. This begins with the widespread looting of mattresses, gas stoves and gas balloons from occupied homes, and continues with small souvenir items, such as rosaries and small dolls for children. This is all explained, of course, by operational needs, such as a plasma screen in the command room of the brigade commander, which was confiscated from a Palestinian house.”

He continued, "On the day, company soldiers went to watch a match on a screen that was confiscated from a neighboring house. Other soldiers looted phones, vacuum cleaners, bicycles and motorcycles. In my view, it is very legitimate from a moral standpoint to target homes that would pose a threat during an attack; and it is also legitimate." Leveling buildings and demolishing homes that threaten military roads. I realize that part of the deterrence equation is targeting many buildings.”

According to him, “I accept this, provided that it is described as a military mission and not an expression of anger. The phenomenon of writing on the walls, breaking and demolishing inside homes indicates abandonment of obedience. There are forces that start burning homes, and the battalion commander says that there is nothing wrong with this.”

The accumulated feeling is that there is approval that what they did in Huwwara in the West Bank will be implemented here in Gaza.

He pointed out that "political messages are released without any obstacles, and are always right-wing and often extremist. The officers turn a blind eye."

The military doctor added, "During the fighting, we captured five elite terrorists (in Hamas) after they surrendered, and one of them had a broken ankle. I treated him, but the soldiers looked at me in surprise and asked harsh questions, not because they were angry, but because they did not understand why I was treating him."

The doctor stated in his written testimony that “200 meters away from us, the leader of these saboteurs was arrested. He had many fractures in his limbs. After a very short time of being interrogated by a prisoner of war investigator, a reserve soldier came and executed the prisoner. The general took care of the problem.” "Quickly, the commander of the military division and the commander of the brigade moved between the forces and spoke about the seriousness of this event. In practice, I would be very surprised if the man were to remain in prison for four months."

He continued, "I am not against war. I fully support the use of excessive force when necessary. However, many people feel that wearing the Israeli army uniform and crossing the border allows them to cross moral boundaries."

Following the execution of the prisoner, the Israeli army spokesman said, “This event is subject to a military police investigation. The soldier’s claim is being considered, according to which he felt there was a real danger and therefore carried out the shooting in self-defense. Upon the end of the investigation, its results will be transferred to the Military Public Prosecution.”

Barnea pointed out, “I heard about the phenomenon of sabotage and looting from other officers in the reserve. There is a long heritage in this field, and it extends back to the Palmach period (during the 1948 Nakba). He (the thief soldier) says that these items (looted from Gaza) are not for me, but for colleagues.” "I am not a thief, but I complete the equipment."

Barnea pointed out that this phenomenon is not limited to the behavior of Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip. “Members of kibbutzim in the Gaza Strip narrated that soldiers deployed inside the kibbutz destroyed property, and here and there looted everything they could get their hands on.

I heard about similar manifestations in the (Israeli) towns whose residents were evacuated on the Lebanese border as well.”

Barnea published the text of a military order issued by the head of the Halal Food Department under Jewish law, Rabbi Avishai Peretz, legitimizing soldiers’ theft of food supplies from Gazans. It stated, “This document addresses the reality in which force is not present within Israel’s borders and is concerned with the use of plunder.”

Peretz concluded his "document" with a biblical verse that says: "You shall eat all peoples," the continuation of which was stated: "Do not let your eyes pity them, nor worship their gods, for that is a polytheism to you."