Testimonies of horrific executions

252nd Division Officer: We Arrest Civilians and Execute Them Because They Are Militants

Only 10 militants out of 200 civilian dead

Soldier: A 16-year-old boy was shot dead

Officer: The army acts like armed militias not governed by laws

An investigation by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed the routine killings carried out by soldiers and officers of the occupation army against any Palestinian who dares to approach the Netzarim axis, most of whom are unarmed civilians. The victims are declared as militants, even if they are just children, and their bodies become prey for stray dogs, because they are not allowed to be retrieved from their location.

Haaretz newspaper quoted soldiers and officers who served in recent months on the Netzarim axis: There is an imaginary line, and anyone who crosses it is killed, even if he is not carrying a weapon, or those who lose their way, and even cyclists.

"This line is not drawn on any map, and is not mentioned in any official order. If senior IDF commanders were asked, they would probably deny its existence. But in the heart of the Gaza Strip, north of the Netzarim axis, there is nothing more obvious than it," Haaretz said.

“There is something called among the troops on the ground ‘the line of bodies,’” a commander in the 252nd Division told Haaretz. “After a shooting, the bodies are not collected immediately, and the dogs come to eat them. In Gaza, they have learned that the place where the dogs appear is the place they should run from.”

Another officer from the 252nd Division, who recently completed his service, told Haaretz: “From the division’s perspective, the kill zone is the range of a sniper’s vision. We kill civilians there and they are counted as militants.” He noted that the IDF spokesman’s statements about the number of casualties for each unit and division have turned into a competition between the forces, explaining: “If the 99th Division killed 150 Palestinians, the next division will try to reach 200.”

"One incident involved the shooting of a young boy, about 16 years old, who was unarmed," said a soldier in the company. "When one of the soldiers tried to point this out, he was met with screaming from everyone.

"For me, anyone who crosses the line is armed. There are no exceptions," the division commander said.

According to Haaretz, commanders and soldiers expressed frustration at the ease with which civilians are turned into militants after being killed. It quoted a reserve commander as saying: “Saying that we are the most moral army in the world is an attempt to justify our actions. We know very well what we are doing there. We are in a place where there are no laws, where human life is worth nothing.”

The newspaper said that the Netzarim axis extends seven kilometers, starting near Kibbutz Be'eri and ending at the coast occupied by the Israeli army. The area was completely evacuated of its residents and their homes were destroyed to pave roads and build military sites. Officially, Palestinians were completely banned from entering the area. But in practice, it is not just an invitation to the residents to turn back (if they reach the place).

"It's just a metaphor from the army," Haaretz quoted a senior officer in the 252nd Division, who served three reserve tours in Gaza. "In effect, the division commander has designated this area as a killing zone. Anyone who enters will be shot."

The Haaretz investigation indicated that brigade commanders have unlimited authority. In the past, it required the approval of the chief of staff to bomb an aerial target or hit a high-rise building. But now, a brigade commander can make the decision himself.

"Sometimes the IDF acts like an armed militia, without clear laws," said another officer.

A soldier said that after a person was shot and killed, the body was photographed and the data sent to intelligence to confirm that he was a militant, adding: "It didn't matter. The data we are announcing shows hundreds of militants killed."

"In another horrific incident, the body of a young boy was found, photographed and his cell phone confiscated. Later, it was confirmed that he was not a Hamas member, but just a child," Haaretz said.