Israeli soldiers tell of killings of Gaza civilians and use of human shields

Israeli soldiers have described a free-for-all in Gaza and a breakdown in norms and legal constraints, with civilians killed at the whim of individual officers, according to testimony in a television documentary.

- Julian Borger Senior international correspondent

"If you want to shoot without restraint, you can," says Daniel, the commander of an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tank unit, in Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel's War, due to be broadcast on ITV this evening.

The soldiers who agreed to talk confirmed the IDF's routine use of human shields, contradicting official denials, and gave details of Israeli troops opening fire unprovoked on civilians racing to reach food handouts at the militarised distribution points set up by the USand Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

"In basic training for the army, we all chanted 'means, intent and ability'," Capt Yotam Vilk, an armoured corps officer, said in reference to the official IDF training guidelines stipulating that a soldier can fire only if the target has the means, shows intent, and has the ability to cause harm.

"There's no such thing as 'means, intent and ability' in Gaza," Vilk said. "It's just a suspicion of walking where it's not allowed. A man aged between 20 and 40."

Another soldier, identified in the programme only as Eli, said: "Life and death isn't determined by procedures or opening fire regulations. It's the conscience of the commander on the ground that decides."