Tel Aviv: The Israeli occupation army has promoted an officer who previously ordered his troops to open fire on Gaza civilians waving white flags, according to reports from the Hebrew-language newspaper Haaretz. The incident, which occurred at the Netzarim Corridor late last year, involved the officer instructing soldiers to shoot at civilians as they passed through the area.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the officer, who was observed by soldiers giving the controversial order, has since been elevated to the position of battalion commander. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, the Israeli army has yet to decide on initiating an investigation into the matter.
The details of the case were first brought to light in December 2024 through an opinion piece in Haaretz, penned by a soldier who witnessed the event. This report was part of a broader investigation by Haaretz concerning incidents at the Netzarim junction during that time frame.
Testimonies highlighted by Haaretz reveal that during the episode near the Netzarim Corridor, the officer insisted on shooting at two Palestinians who were attempting to cross the road. However, another officer on the scene intervened, refusing to execute the order.
Subsequent to the publication of the opinion column, military police reached out to the author, Haim Har-Zahav, summoning him to provide testimony. Despite several months having elapsed since his testimony, there has been no advancement towards launching a formal investigation. The officer in question, a reservist with the rank of major, has not been called in for questioning.
Haaretz further reported that the officer's promotion to battalion commander has been confirmed, although his identity remains undisclosed. The battalion under his command is an infantry unit tasked with ground operations during the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.
