Latest news with #NahalBrigade
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
IDF thwarts explosive plot, hits Hamas terror targets in Gaza
The military said that the Nahal Brigade had struck several pieces of terror infrastructure in northern Gaza. The IDF struck several Hamas terror targets in Beit Lahiya in the Gaza Strip in recent weeks, the military announced on Wednesday. The military said that the Nahal Brigade, under the command of the IDF's 162nd Division, had struck several pieces of terror infrastructure in northern Gaza. "In recent weeks, numerous terror targets have been attacked from the air and ground, including terrorists, weapons depots, booby-trapped structures, launchers, and tunnel shafts," the release noted. The IDF said that the brigade destroyed a booby-trapped building that was identified using a drone. The military revealed that the building contained a bag of explosives intended to harm IDF soldiers. The strikes come in the midst of Operation Gideon's Chariots, which began in mid-May. To date, the IDF has seized nearly 50% of the territory in Gaza, according to past reporting from The Jerusalem Post.
Middle East Eye
05-03-2025
- Middle East Eye
Israeli troops selling loot stolen from Gaza and Lebanon, investigation reveals
Israeli soldiers have been selling looted valuables from Gaza and Lebanon, a new investigation has revealed. A report by Hamakom Hachi Ham Bagehenom (The Hottest Place in Hell) compiled numerous testimonies of thefts allegedly committed by members of the Israeli army. These included large sums of cash, jewellery, electronic devices, and even vehicles. These items were later sold on Telegram channels, Facebook Marketplace, or in public sales. A commander in the Nahal Brigade, using the pseudonym Eitan to remain anonymous, explained that while soldiers initially took items as souvenirs, the thefts soon escalated. Searching soldiers' bags became a lower priority, as "it was the whole battalion. Soldiers were doing it everywhere, and they managed to hide it everywhere." New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters The real issue arose when it wasn't just the younger troops looting, but also sergeants taking part in the thefts. "A senior commander taking equipment from people's homes in Gaza, with the full knowledge of the company sergeant and the company commander. I went to my sergeant and asked him what was the matter. He said it really looked bad, but that there was nothing he could do about it," Eitan said. 'I've heard of situations where significant amounts were taken, thousands and tens of thousands of shekels' - Omar, Israeli soldier According to the investigation, the stolen items being sold are typically incriminating, making them unsuitable for normal use. This includes jewellery with Arabic inscription, as well as ammunition and weapons, which would raise suspicion if used. "It's much easier to take cash than to take something and sell it. I've heard of situations where significant amounts were taken, thousands and tens of thousands of shekels - bills are the easiest thing in the world," another soldier, Omar, told the publication. "It's not unreasonable to think that some of the items were taken to be sold, but I also know that many people recognise this goes beyond reasonable limits, so they make a point to hide it. Those who sell won't be eager to talk about it with their friends right away." Omar added that those in positions of authority did not see a problem with such actions. He explained, "At the higher levels, they turned a blind eye," noting that they are not concerned with addressing the looting. The soldier believes that there is also looting taking place amongst commanders, with items that are even more valuable. Report reveals vast loot Israeli soldiers took from Gaza, Lebanon and Syria Read More » The report stated that when money or ammunition was found, soldiers were required to inform their superiors, who would then notify the Booty Clearance Unit (Yahpash) of the army's Technological and Logistics Directorate. One month into Israel's war on Gaza, the unit reported five million shekels ($1.3m) confiscated from the besieged enclave and deposited into the state treasury. Today, the figure stands at 100 million shekels ($27.6m) in cash from Gaza and Lebanon combined. Last week, a new report by Israeli outlet Ynet outlined the vast amounts of valuables stolen by Israeli soldiers from Syria, Lebanon and Gaza, including boxes of cash valued at nearly $28m, gold bars, luxury jewellery and 183,000 pieces of weaponry. The looting was so widespread that soldiers joked they 'broke their backs' from carrying the stolen items. Most of the looting has been conducted by and collected by special army units dedicated to "seizing" money and other property from 'enemy' territory. But "independent" looting by soldiers has also been rampant. During the ongoing invasions of Syria, Lebanon and Gaza, soldiers have seized enough pieces of weaponry to form a small army, according to Ynet. War crimes and violations Looting, pillaging and theft by military forces is prohibited by international law, and constitutes a war crime. Spoilation, the act of removing items belonging to vulnerable communities and civilians, is also considered illegal. Such violations have been largely seen as normalised amongst the Israeli public, with some of the most recent case involving theft from houses in the occupied West Bank during military raids. The Hind Rajab Foundation: Pursuing Israeli soldiers worldwide for Gaza war crimes Read More » One clip shows what seems to be the looting of property in Jenin, with boxes piled in a wheelbarrow and soldiers taking random home items. In February last year, the former Israeli army chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, warned soldiers against looting homes in Gaza after numerous videos emerged showing houses being vandalised and ransacked. According to the Israeli Ynet news website, Halevi has asked commanders and soldiers to refrain from theft, unnecessary graffiti on the walls and a "breakdown of discipline". He pointed to several videos posted online that showed violent and provocative acts that appeared to have little to do with furthering the stated aim of destroying Hamas. In one video, a soldier boasts about stealing a silver necklace from Gaza to take back to his girlfriend in Israel. Another video shows a soldier stealing a rug from a Palestinian home, and a third shows a soldier stealing a traditional mirror from a house. Other videos show an Israeli officer stealing make-up to take as a gift to Israel and a soldier setting fire to food and water supplies.
Al-Ahram Weekly
17-02-2025
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Israeli officer accused of using elderly Palestinian as human shield in Gaza operation: Report - War on Gaza
A senior Israeli military officer from the Nahal Brigade has been accused of tying an explosive cord around the neck of an 80-year-old Palestinian man and exploiting him as a human shield during a military operation in Gaza's Zeitoun, according to a report by the Israeli investigative platform The Hottest Place in Hell. The 80-year-old man, who was found with his wife in one of the houses cleared by Israeli forces, had no choice but to remain at home. He was reportedly coerced into leading Israeli soldiers through houses in the neighbourhood while moving with a cane. The soldiers tied a detonating fuse around his neck, connecting it to an initiating detonator as a leash to prevent him from escaping. One of the soldiers was quoted as saying: 'Even though he walks with a cane, they explained to him that if he did something wrong or not as we wanted, the person behind him would pull the rope, and his head would be severed from his body.' After hours of forced activity, the man was returned home and ordered, along with his wife, to evacuate the area. However, shortly after leaving their house, both were shot dead by Israeli forces. The soldiers did not inform troops stationed in the nearby sector that an elderly couple was about to cross the zone on foot. The incident has sparked outrage and raised questions about the Israeli military's adherence to international law, which prohibits the use of civilians as human shields. Mosquito procedure According to testimonies from soldiers involved in the operation, the use of the elderly man as a human shield was part of a controversial military tactic known as the 'mosquito procedure.' This practice, previously documented in reports by Haaretz and The Hottest Place in Hell, involves forcing Palestinian civilians to perform dangerous tasks, such as entering buildings ahead of soldiers to check for explosives or armed fighters. Soldiers described the incident as an extreme application of this procedure. Denial from Israeli army The Israeli army has denied the routine use of the Mosquito Procedure, stating that its directives prohibit the use of civilians in military operations that endanger their lives. In response to the report, an Israeli army spokesperson said: "An investigation based on the information provided in the request indicates that the case is unknown. As additional details are received, further investigation will be conducted." The spokesperson added: "Israeli army directives and orders prohibit the use of Gazan civilians captured in the field for military missions that pose a deliberate risk to their lives. Israeli army directives and orders on the subject have been clarified to the forces." However, testimonies from soldiers suggest that the practice is widespread and often sanctioned at the battalion level despite official denials from higher command. "This is a procedure that has become standard practice in the army," one soldier told The Hottest Place in Hell. The use of human shields is a violation of international humanitarian law and has been explicitly banned by the Israeli High Court of Justice since the Second Intifada. Nevertheless, reports of its continued use in Gaza persist, with soldiers claiming that the practice is often concealed or downplayed by military authorities. Broader implications The incident has drawn attention to the ethical and legal challenges faced by Israeli soldiers operating in Gaza, where the dense urban environment and the presence of civilians complicate military operations. Critics argue that tactics such as the Mosquito Procedure not only violate international law but also undermine Israel's moral standing and expose soldiers to potential legal repercussions. "As a soldier, you cannot influence or change the situation, yet you are guilty because you did it. Even when investigations take place, there is no chance that the IDF (Army) will admit this is standard procedure. But if you ask any fighter who served in Gaza, no one will tell you it doesn't happen. There is no regular battalion that can claim it has never used this practice," read the report. The report has reignited debates over accountability and transparency within the Israeli army, prompting calls for a thorough and independent investigation into the incident. Human rights organizations have urged the international community to take note of the allegations and ensure that violations of international law are addressed. Short link:
Al Manar
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
Israeli Occupation Used Palestinian Elderly as Gaza Human Shield: Report
The Israeli occupation military forced an 80-year-old Palestinian man to act as a human shield in Gaza by tying an explosive cord around his neck and threatening to have his head blown off, an investigation has found. A senior officer from the occupation army's Nahal Brigade tied the explosive cord around the man's neck before he was ordered to scout houses the Israeli outlet The Hottest Place in Hell found in an investigation. After eight hours, soldiers ordered the man to flee with his wife from their home in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood in May, said +972 magazine, which reported the piece in partnership with The Hottest Place in Hell. But when another Israeli battalion spotted the elderly couple on the street, they were shot dead on the spot, according to Israeli occupation soldiers present at the scene. The Israeli soldiers had initially encountered the couple in their home. They told Arabic-speaking soldiers that they were unable to flee to southern Gaza due to mobility difficulties. But even in his condition, the soldiers forced the unnamed 80-year-old to walk ahead of them with his cane, while his wife was detained in their house. Additional details of the methods of warfare used in Gaza by the Israeli military and the deployment of civilians as human shields, then executed. The amount of evidence on the use of the practice in Gaza is unprecedented. It is clearly a military policy. — Nicola Perugini (@PeruginiNic) February 16, 2025 A soldier told the investigation that the Israeli commander had decided to use the Palestinian couple as 'mosquitoes', referring to a procedure where the Israeli army forces Palestinian civilians to serve as human shields to protect the Israeli forces from being shot or blown up. 'He entered each house before us so that if there were [explosives] or a militant inside, he would [take the hit] instead of us,' one soldier said. 'He was told that if he did anything wrong or didn't follow orders, the soldier behind him would pull the cord, and his head would be torn from his body.' The man was forced to act as a human shield for eight hours, before he was ordered, along with his wife, to walk towards the so-called 'humanitarian zone' in southern Gaza. But the soldiers did not care to tell nearby Israeli divisions that the couple was going to pass through the area, according to the testimonies. 'After 100 meters, the other battalion saw them and immediately shot them,' a soldier said. 'They died like that, in the street.' More reports emerge on the Israeli occupation army's war crimes committed against the Palestinian people throughout 16 months of genocidal war in Gaza, with the atrocities of the so-called 'most moral army in the world' are being exposed.
Middle East Eye
17-02-2025
- Middle East Eye
Israeli forces used 80-year-old Palestinian as human shield before killing him
Israeli forces strapped explosives around the neck of an elderly Palestinian man in Gaza and forced him to act as a human shield before killing him and his wife, an investigation by the Israeli news website HaMakom has revealed. The Palestinian man, who has not been named but is believed to have been well above the age of 80, was told that if he did not carry out the searches Israeli forces would detonate the explosives and "blow off his head." According to HaMakom, the incident took place in May last year when Israeli soldiers from several different brigades amassed near the house of the Palestinian couple, both aged in their 80s, in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighbourhood. At the time, Israeli forces had launched their third ground assault on the area after engaging in intense fighting with Hamas and other Palestinian movements. HaMakom said that the Nahal Brigade, the Carmeli Brigade and the Multidimensional Unit, decided to use the elderly Palestinian man, who used a walking stick to get around, as the human shield.
