Israeli soldiers have revealed to Haaretz that they were instructed to shoot unarmed Palestinians seeking humanitarian aid at designated distribution zones in Gaza, even when the crowds posed no threat.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports at least 549 Palestinians have been killed near aid centers since late May, with soldiers describing these zones as a “killing field.”
Instead of using non-lethal crowd control measures like tear gas, troops reportedly employed live fire, including machine guns, mortars, and tank shells, to disperse or deter civilians.
One soldier stated:
Military Orders and Investigations
The Haaretz report details how commanders, including Brig. Gen.
Yehuda Vach of Division 252, allegedly issued direct orders to fire on civilians near UN aid trucks to ensure they “clear out,” even when no danger was present.
Soldiers described the operation as “Operation Salted Fish,” a grim reference to a children’s game.
The army’s Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism has been tasked with investigating potential war crimes, but officers expressed skepticism about meaningful action.
A senior reserve officer also told Haaretz, “When we asked why they opened fire, we were told it was an order from above … I can say with certainty that the people were not close to the forces and did not endanger them. It was pointless, they were just killed, for nothing.”
He added:
The "aid" distribution program, operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has drawn scrutiny for its ties to Israeli authorities and private contractors.
Human rights lawyer Kate Mackintosh warned that GHF staff could face criminal liability for complicity in war crimes, given the foreseeable risk of civilian deaths.
The situation has fueled accusations that the aid centers, meant to provide relief, have become dangerous traps for desperate Palestinians.
Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, which has killed nearly 56,300 people since October 2023, continues to face international condemnation, including ICC arrest warrants for Israeli leaders.