Some Israeli soldiers speak out against Gaza war, refuse further service

A growing number of Israeli soldiers are refusing to serve in Gaza and speaking publicly about their experiences, citing ethical concerns about military operations in the Palestinian enclave.

Around 200 soldiers have signed a letter pledging to stop fighting if the government does not secure a ceasefire, while organisers claim hundreds more share similar views but remain silent.

Yotam Vilk, 28, a former armoured corps officer, described witnessing at least 12 deaths in a buffer zone, including that of an unarmed Palestinian teenager. “He died as part of a bigger story. As part of the policy of staying there and not seeing Palestinians as people”, Vilk told Associated Press.

Several soldiers reported witnessing indiscriminate killings and unnecessary destruction of Palestinian homes. Yuval Green, 27, a medic, said he abandoned his post last January after witnessing what he described as home desecration and looting by fellow soldiers.

The Israeli military told AP it condemns refusal to serve and examines each case individually. The army maintains it takes extraordinary measures to minimise civilian harm and investigates suspected wrongdoing.

The protest comes amid mounting international pressure for a ceasefire and ongoing investigations by international courts into allegations of war crimes, which Israel firmly denies.

Some veterans have criticised the protest movement. “They are harming our ability to defend ourselves”, said Gilad Segal, 42, a paratrooper who served in Gaza in late 2023.

Mental health experts report many soldiers are suffering from “moral injury”, a psychological response to actions that conflict with personal beliefs.

More than 830 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the conflict since October 7, according to military figures.

Israel has killed at least 46,645 Palestinians, with more than 102,000 wounded, since the October 7 attack by Hamas. It has also killed around 3,000 in Lebanon and Syria, while around 3 million people have been displaced from their homes as a result of the war.

Experts, governments, United Nations agencies, and non-governmental organisations have accused Israel of carrying out genocide against the Palestinian people.

(with information from independent.co.uk)