Israeli Military Launches Investigations Amid Rising Tensions
The Israeli military has announced it will open an investigation into a series of troubling incidents captured on video and disseminated on social media. One particular video shows a masked man, who identifies himself as a reservist, calling for insubordination should control of the Gaza Strip be handed to an 'Arab body'. This video was shared by Yair Netanyahu, son of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, on his Telegram channel. In the video, the masked individual, brandishing a weapon, claims loyalty only to Prime Minister Netanyahu and rebuffs Defense Minister Yoav Galant's authority.
The video includes threats against Defense Minister Galant, with the speaker urging for a shift in strategy towards victory, stating, 'Only whoever decides that we should win, we will only go after him.' The masked man further claims that if a victory is not pursued, 'a hundred thousand soldiers will remain on the fence, we will call on the residents of the State of Israel to come to Gaza and we will listen to one leader, (Netanyahu), not the Minister of Defense or the Chief of Staff.' The remarks have been perceived as an act of rebellion, challenging the military hierarchy and the rule of law.
In another investigation, the Israeli army is probing a video and photo showing what appears to be Israeli soldiers burning books in Gaza, including a possible copy of the Quran. This content, which went viral on social media, shows a soldier clad in Israeli uniform throwing a book, suspected to be the Quran, into a fire. Additionally, a widely shared photo depicts a soldier posing in front of burning books, which were later identified as belonging to Al-Aqsa University library in Gaza.
According to a reporter from the fact-checking site Bellingcat, the book-laden shelves in the background of the photo match those of the Al-Aqsa University library. The Israeli army condemned these actions, stating, 'The behavior in the video is not consistent with the values of the Israeli army.' The criminal unit of the military police has launched an investigation into these incidents, underscoring that the army 'respects all religions' and 'categorically condemns this type of behavior.'
Since the start of the war in Gaza, instigated by a Hamas attack on October 7, there have been multiple accusations against Israeli soldiers for posting degrading content towards Palestinian civilians. These incidents include alleged misconduct like mistreatment of detainees, looting, and illegal use of force. The conflict, triggered by the Hamas attack which resulted in the death of over 1,170 people, mostly civilians, has seen the Israeli army launch a devastating offensive in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Health Ministry reports at least 35,800 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians, as a result of the offensive.
- The October 7 Hamas attack led to severe repercussions and heightened military actions. According to official Israeli data, 252 individuals were taken as hostages, out of which 124 are still being held in Gaza, including 37 who are deceased. In response, the Israeli military's offensive on the Gaza Strip has been relentless.
- Yair Netanyahu’s involvement in sharing the controversial content adds another layer of complexity, given his direct relationship with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. This aspect puts additional pressure on the political landscape within Israel, already fraught with tension over military and civilian casualties.
- These back-to-back investigations highlight the ongoing human rights and ethical concerns within the region, affecting the international perception of the conflict. The global community, including bodies like the International Court of Justice, keeps a close watch on these developments.
