Israeli soldiers stationed in the Gaza Strip have reportedly been ordered to open fire on unarmed Palestinian civilians gathering at humanitarian aid distribution sites, even when no threat was present, according to a damning investigation by Israeli newspaper Haaretz published Friday.
The report, based on testimonies from active-duty and reserve soldiers, reveals a disturbing pattern of conduct: troops were instructed by their commanders to shoot into crowds to disperse civilians, despite clear indications that they posed no danger. “It’s a killing field,” one soldier told Haaretz, claiming that between one and five people were fatally shot every day from his position alone, with no use of non-lethal crowd control methods.
Since May 27, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that at least 549 Palestinians have been killed and over 4,000 wounded near food distribution points and aid centers. These sites, operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, are reportedly managed in coordination with Israeli authorities, American evangelical organizations, and private security contractors.
A reservist quoted in the investigation described Gaza as “a lawless zone” where “the loss of human life means nothing.” A senior officer said soldiers were told to fire on civilians “by order from above,” acknowledging that the people shot were not threatening Israeli forces. “It was pointless,” he said. “They were just killed, for nothing.”
The army’s rules of engagement, referred to as a “deterrence procedure,” reportedly include the use of mortars, machine guns, and tank fire at times before aid stations open or well after they have closed. In some cases, soldiers said so-called “warning shots” resulted in direct fatalities. One soldier described firing a tank shell into a crowd near the coastline, admitting, “Every time we fire, there are casualties and deaths.”
The operation has allegedly been nicknamed “Operation Salted Fish,” a reference to a children’s game, highlighting the normalization of such actions among troops.
The Israeli army’s Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism is said to be investigating potential war crimes linked to these actions. However, soldiers interviewed expressed skepticism about any meaningful accountability. One legal source told Haaretz: “This isn’t about a few people being killed; we’re talking about dozens of casualties every day.”
Among the units under scrutiny is Division 252, led by Brig. Gen. Yehuda Vach, who allegedly issued direct orders to fire on civilians near UN aid trucks. Soldiers under his command described widespread acceptance of the policy. “The idea is to make sure they clear out, even if they’re just there for food,” one officer said.
The report also sheds light on the role of private contractors in Gaza. According to one soldier, contractors receive up to 5,000 shekels (around $1,500) for every Palestinian home demolished with engineering equipment.
Since October 2023, Israel has continued its offensive in Gaza, rejecting international ceasefire calls. According to health authorities, nearly 56,300 Palestinians the majority women and children have been killed.
