Israeli Military Ordered to Fire on Unarmed Gazans Near Aid Sites, Haaretz Reports

Israeli soldiers were instructed by their commanders to open fire on unarmed Palestinian civilians near aid distribution points in Gaza, even when these individuals posed no threat, according to an investigation by Haaretz published on June 27, 2025. The report, based on testimonies from multiple Israeli soldiers and officers, describes the aid distribution areas as “killing fields,” with one soldier stating that between one and five people were killed every day at his post. Soldiers reported that live ammunition, including heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, and mortars, was used instead of non-lethal crowd-control measures.

The Haaretz investigation prompted Israel’s Military Advocate General to launch a formal probe into possible war crimes committed by Israeli forces at these sites. The military unit responsible for investigating incidents that may violate international law has been tasked with examining the actions of soldiers at distribution points over the past month. Local hospitals and officials have indicated that hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in recent weeks while attempting to access food and essential supplies.

While the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that an internal investigation is underway, it denied that there was a standing order from senior command to deliberately target civilians. The IDF stated that its directives prohibit deliberate attacks on civilians and claimed that recent shootings were the result of warning shots aimed at individuals who strayed from designated access routes or approached sites when they were closed. However, soldiers interviewed by Haaretz contradicted this, asserting that there was no immediate threat and that no return fire was observed from the crowds.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has intensified, with nearly two million Palestinians confined to just 18% of the territory, facing severe shortages of food, overcrowding, and disease outbreaks. A recent Haaretz editorial called for the United Nations to take over Gaza’s food distribution system, describing Israel’s current efforts as a “bloody failure”.

The revelations have sparked widespread international criticism and renewed scrutiny over Israel’s conduct in Gaza, as the conflict continues to escalate and civilian casualties mount.