12.10.2026 17:42
Striking confessions came from 4 soldiers regarding the attacks carried out by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip. Soldiers speaking to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz recounted that buildings containing civilians were bombed without being evacuated, that it was calculated in advance that hundreds of people could die, and that despite this, approval was given for the attacks. It was stated that approximately 250 civilians lost their lives in the attack on Jabaliya Refugee Camp.
New testimonies regarding the Israeli army's attacks in Gaza have reopened the debate on practices for protecting civilians. Four soldiers serving in the Military Intelligence Directorate claimed that some attacks were carried out despite knowing that civilians could die.
ISRAELI SOLDIERS' CONFESSION OF CIVILIAN MASSACRE
Four soldiers who spoke to Israel's Haaretz newspaper and whose identities were kept secret made statements about the behind-the-scenes of operations in Gaza. According to the soldiers' accounts, the Israeli army targeted some buildings despite knowing that there were civilians inside, without carrying out an evacuation. A soldier codenamed A., serving in the intelligence unit, said that in October 2023, efforts to locate Hamas members began almost from scratch. The soldier recounted that as operations progressed, targeting criteria were loosened and the accepted limits regarding the deaths of civilians not participating in hostilities were expanded.
THEY CALCULATED IN ADVANCE THAT 300 CIVILIANS COULD DIE
One of the most striking confessions in the report concerned the attack on the Jabalia Refugee Camp in northern Gaza on October 31, 2023. A soldier codenamed D. said that in the operation targeting Ibrahim Bivari, one of the commanders of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, it was known that the commander was underground, but his exact location could not be determined. The soldier stated that buildings in which people lived were nevertheless chosen as targets and no evacuation was carried out. A soldier codenamed A. conveyed that in the intelligence assessment prepared before the attack, it was calculated that 250 to 300 people could die. The soldier, stating that due to this risk the approval for the attack was sent directly to the Chief of the General Staff, said that after the operation it was understood that approximately 250 civilians had died.
NO UPPER-LEVEL APPROVAL WAS OBTAINED FOR THE RISK OF DEATH OF 20 CIVILIANS
A soldier codenamed B., serving in the Israeli army's unmanned aerial vehicle unit, also made a striking claim. The soldier stated that they did not separately obtain approval from higher authorities for attacks in which approximately 20 Palestinian civilians could die or be injured. A soldier codenamed C., serving in the Military Intelligence Directorate, recounted that in examinations carried out before ground operations, it was determined that approximately 25 percent of the population in Gaza was still in their homes. C. alleged that when they asked about the situation of the civilians remaining in the area, they were told that these people were targets of the forces in the field.
STATEMENTS CONTRADICTING NETANYAHU'S EVACUATION CLAIMS
The soldiers' statements contradicted the declarations by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and army officials that civilians were warned to evacuate before the attacks. Haaretz stated that the testimonies indicated that the high civilian casualties did not result only from intelligence errors, but that attack policies were also effective in these outcomes.
DEATH TOLL IN GAZA HAS EXCEEDED 74,000
Despite the ceasefire that came into force in Gaza on October 10, 2025, the Israeli army's attacks continue. According to the data reported, in the attacks carried out since October 2023, more than 74,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, and more than 175,000 people have been injured.