Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

2-minute read
24 December 2023 | 13:59 CAT

Rights groups say Israeli soldiers killing three of their fellow citizens in Gaza is symbolic of the military’s utter disregard for global rules on engaging with non-combatants.

Last week, Israeli soldiers shot dead three of their fellow citizens who were held hostage by Hamas in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.

It is not their death but the manner of their killing that has sent global shockwaves and sparked anger in Israel against the trigger-happy ways of its military.

The three young men had taken off their shirts to show there were no hidden weapons, were waving a white flag and speaking in Hebrew to the soldiers – begging to be rescued.

The killings come amid increased scrutiny of the Israeli military following similar other incidents – killing their soldiers in friendly fire during the Gaza offensive.

These incidents have also mounted pressure on the Netanyahu government – the most ultranationalist and radical in Israel’s history – which has ignored global calls for a ceasefire in Gaza despite the staggering number of civilian deaths.

Experts and human rights experts, however, say that the cold-blooded killing of the three hostages is symbolic of the Israeli military’s ‘shoot-first-ask-later’ philosophy, which it has been using for years to target Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories.

The “tragic” incident has “shocked” the public, says Alon Liel, the former general director of the Israeli foreign ministry, creating a perfect storm across the country’s political and military establishments.

After the killings, hostage families and many Israelis urged their government to restart negotiations with Hamas for the release of the rest of the hostages. Despite the 70-day-long campaign against Hamas, the Israeli military has not been able to release any hostages.

As a result, many observers are questioning the merits of continuing to attack Gaza, which has only resulted in civilian deaths and deepened the humanitarian crisis.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Muallimah Annisa Essack.