The Israeli writer specializing in security and intelligence affairs, Yossi Melman, brought back the incident of the Israeli army’s killing of 3 of its detainees who “escaped from captivity” in the Gaza Strip to the deep-rooted culture and practices of killing and violence that this army has been accustomed to over decades, in contravention of the instructions on the rules of fire.
Melman explained – in a report in Haaretz newspaper – that these practices are due to the accompanying “cover-up” regarding investigations and what he called “lenient punishment,” which is reflected in “violent” behavior in many parts of Israeli society, according to him.
Melman says that although the army leadership acknowledged and did not downplay the seriousness of the shooting incident that led to the death of the three detainees, and Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy accepted responsibility and said, “It is forbidden to shoot at anyone who raises the white flag and requests surrender,” the reality remains different, according to him.
The writer also reviewed what he described as the “military doctrine,” which was reformulated in 2000, and which stipulates that “the soldier will not use his weapons and force except to carry out the mission, and only to the extent required for that,” in addition to international agreements that prohibit killing or harming prisoners and innocents. However, the reality is Different – according to the writer – the Israeli army has been accustomed to shooting Palestinian men and women in the West Bank for years, contrary to these instructions.
Melman confirms that the problem lies in the fact that most of the cases did not punish those who opened fire or led them, and not only did they justify the act, as he sees it, but they coordinated narratives to prevent the implementation of military police orders to open investigations against “suspects,” or those “rare” investigations that are closed. On the grounds of “insufficient evidence.”
An Israeli occupation army investigation into the mistaken killing of 3 Israeli prisoners in Gaza by its soldiers revealed that the dead were waving white flags, and that one of them was calling for help in Hebrew, saying, “Save us.”
Two days before the incident, the occupation forces found a building with the words “Save 3 Hostages” written in Hebrew, hundreds of meters away from the site of the incident, according to what was reported by the Israeli press.
The three detainees left a building dozens of meters away from the building in which an occupation army force was stationed. Then a soldier saw them leaving the building without shirts and carrying a stick with a white cloth. He shouted to his companions, “Terrorists,” and began shooting at them. He killed two on the spot, and the third fled wounded to the hospital. Inside the building he came out of again, according to Israeli media.
As soon as he heard the third man’s screams, the military commander, who had the rank of major, gave orders to stop shooting. The wounded prisoner emerged reassured from the building, but a soldier shot and killed him, violating the orders of the field commander.
After the killing of the three detainees, the occupation soldiers had doubts about the identity of the dead, so they were transferred to Israel. After examining the bodies, it was found that they were prisoners of Hamas in Gaza.
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2023-12-19 13:04:46
