Testimonies published by Haaretz have alleged indiscriminate killings of Palestinian civilians by Israel Defense Forces personnel in Gaza’s Netzarim corridor, saying soldiers were ordered to shoot anyone crossing into the occupied strip regardless of whether they were armed. “Anyone who crosses the border is a terrorist. No exceptions,” one soldier recounted.
The Netzarim corridor, a narrow strip that divides Gaza, has been evacuated by the IDF and fortified with outposts and defenses. According to Haaretz, soldiers and reservists described orders and operational practices that blurred the line between combatants and civilians; one account said, “Of 200 bodies, only 10 were confirmed as Hamas members.” Another soldier said, “We kill civilians there who are then labeled as terrorists.”
Key developments
Multiple firsthand accounts describe deadly episodes. One testimony said a tank fired hundreds of bullets at four unarmed people, killing three and leaving the fourth detained under harsh conditions. Soldiers reported widespread destruction and a buffer zone turned into what they called a zone of lawlessness.
Reports cited by Haaretz say more than 600 Palestinian buildings were demolished around the corridor. Some units were described as having wide autonomy, with one source characterizing them as “independent militias.” Allegations of indiscriminate killing, targeted destruction of civilian infrastructure, and other violations were also reported by +972 Magazine: https://www.972mag.com/israeli-soldiers-gaza-firing-regulations/. Middle East reporter Pepijn Nagtzaam noted the disturbing absence of differentiation between civilians and militants in the testimonies.
Legal and political implications
Experts and campaigners say the accounts are consistent with prior allegations of war crimes in Gaza, including use of detainees as human shields and deliberate destruction of essential facilities. Iva Vukušić, a war crimes expert at Utrecht University, said Israel has a legal framework for investigations but “it is politically unpopular and highly unlikely to happen at this point.”
The International Criminal Court has jurisdiction over the Palestinian territories but limited resources; recent ICC arrest warrants have targeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas leaders. Advocates argue those constraints make domestic investigation more important but politically fraught.
Haaretz has faced a government backlash in Israel. The Netanyahu government has accused the paper of undermining the state’s legitimacy and barred government employees from speaking to its journalists; Haaretz condemned the boycott, likening it to actions by authoritarian leaders such as Putin and Erdogan.
Legal accountability for the allegations remains unresolved. Experts warn that failure to investigate or prosecute credible claims could perpetuate cycles of violence and erode adherence to international humanitarian law.
