Israeli soldiers' "cold blooded murder" of Gaza's civilians

[draiocht23]

"Cold blooded murder" of innocent civilians whose lives were "very, very less important than the lives of our soldiers” - these are some of the matter-of-fact admittances to massacre that have emerged from Israeli soldiers who fought in the recent bloody Gaza war.

Testimonies from unnamed soldiers, published today in Ha'aretz, describe the slaughter of innocent civilians, all at the behest of commanders.

One soldier described "the cold blooded murder" of an elderly woman, who was shot dead as she walked across a road. Another told how a sniper shot a woman and her two children as they stumbled, under Israeli orders, from their home.

I don't think he [sniper] felt too bad about it, because after all, as far as he was concerned, he did his job according to the orders he was given. And the atmosphere in general, from what I understood from most of my men who I talked to ... I don't know how to describe it ... The lives of Palestinians, let's say, is something very, very less important than the lives of our soldiers. So as far as they are concerned they can justify it that way.

Ha'aretz reported:

Ha'aretz reported: "After the orders were changed, the squad leader's soldiers complained that 'We should kill everyone there [in the centre of Gaza]. Everyone there is a terrorist.'"
The squad leader said: "You do not get the impression from the officers that there is any logic to it, but they won't say anything. To write 'death to the Arabs' on the walls, to take family pictures and spit on them, just because you can. I think this is the main thing: to understand how much the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] has fallen in the realm of ethics, really. It's what I'll remember the most."

Testimony about wanton destruction of property was also given:

We would throw everything out of the windows to make room and order. Everything... Refrigerators, plates, furniture. The order was to throw all of the house's contents outside.

The Israeli army, who initially denied the existence of the transcripts, has said it will investigate.

"I still say we have the most moral army in the world. Of course there may be exceptions but I have absolutely no doubt this will be inspected on a case-by-case basis," said Defence Minister Ehud Barak.

BBC NEWS | Middle East | Israel troops admit Gaza abuses

Israeli troops shot 'unarmed Palestinian civilians under orders' during Gaza war | World news | guardian.co.uk

[codology]

I wait with baited breath for that investigation,better chance of a good summer here.

[cHeal]

It will be investigated, they will have a nice "bad apples" conclusion and the world will forget. It is how modern states deal with their own barbarism.

[draiocht23]

Apparently eye-witness accounts of slaughter, even from Israeli soldiers, don't carry much weight with the Israeli government.

The more interesting thing here will be the reaction, if any, of the Obama administration - will this be swept, along with all of the other horrifying evidence of massacres, under an increasingly large and lumpy rug by Israeli's biggest ally.

[cHeal]

yes. Look Israel is not about to be made look bad by anyone. They are fighting the good fight. The mainstream media is not out to control our minds but it does serve its own interests for the most part, the west cannot allow Israel to become the bad guy, it just can't, so like it or lump it they can do pretty much as they please.

I feel pretty sorry for Israelis though (well most of them), their leaders and a loud minority of extremist zionists are guaranteeing the countries inevitable destruction. complete and absolute destruction. For all the Jews didn't do to deserve the Holocaust they are now doing an awful lot worse, and its all on record and will feed into generation after generation of Arabs, Muslims and even Christians. Hell I know people who actually hate jews, they are good honest anti-semites and it's got more to do with the old wives tales of old than anything happening in Palestine, but that dislike persists and what's happening now will never, ever be forgotten.

One day, war will once again ravage this planet. Total war, and when that day comes, Israel better be ready because the international communtiy might just blink. I genuinely fear that by their actions now, Israel is blindly walking into another genocide. And with their policy of creating a Jewish state, they've made it a hell of a lot easier to do now than it ever was.

[FutureTaoiseach]

Already (again) another thread on this.

[cHeal]

Save the rolly eyes you condescending git. Check the time stamps.

[draiocht23]

One day, war will once again ravage this planet. Total war, and when that day comes, Israel better be ready because the international communtiy might just blink..

If your doomsday scenario does come to pass, I can't think of any other nation that is more militarily ready than Israel.

Incidentally, no mention of this story on CNN or Fox yet.

[5intheface]

If your doomsday scenario does come to pass, I can't think of any other nation that is more militarily ready than Israel.

Incidentally, no mention of this story on CNN or Fox yet.

Might the entire story be a staged furore, complete with feigned secrecy, aimed at focussing world attention on a few incedents which can be easily scapegoated and deflect from the bigger picture?

[cHeal]

Militarily ready for what? They can't stop a few home made rockets coming from Gaza, do you think they could stop a hundred nuclear missiles coming from Iran or whoever decides to have a go? What about dirty bombs do you think they could stop them? They can give as good as they can get but Nuclear war is a lose lose situation and in Isreal you have a tiny piece of land containing a huge proportion of the entire Jewish race. Hitler would be coming in his pants at the prospect.

There are just so many ways by which people, state backed or otherwise, could hit Isreal and hit them hard. There is also the fact that Isreal is in the middle of a ton of nations which, popularly atleast, don't like them. If even two of those nations were to gain any form od military competency, Isreal without US support would be in serious danger.

Not surprised it's not on Fox. It'll probably get reported on CNN on one of their utterly redundant "middle east" type reports with the soft voice over and scenes of old ladies and children standing near rubble. The kind of fluff nobody really pays attention to.