Israeli soldiers describe revenge motives, fire orders and collateral damage in Gaza war
Ten Israeli servicemen recount personal experiences from the three-year Gaza conflict, describing feelings of vengeance, directives to fire at any target and the resulting civilian harm.
A series of interviews with ten Israeli soldiers who participated in the three-year Gaza war reveal a stark picture of combat mentality. The interviewees describe a standing order to fire at any perceived target, reflecting a permissive rules-of-engagement environment. Many admit that personal desires for retaliation influenced their actions, blurring the line between professional duty and emotional response.
The soldiers also acknowledge that such aggressive tactics led to significant collateral damage, contributing to a high civilian death toll. Their reflections underscore the intense stress and moral ambiguity experienced by combatants in the conflict. The collection aims to shed light on the human dimension behind the war’s statistics.
Why it matters
The soldiers' accounts expose the human factors driving combat decisions and civilian harm in the Gaza conflict.
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