Swiss newspaper Le Temps reports that the killing of three Israeli detainees by occupation soldiers in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood north of Gaza after what seemed to be their attempt to escape has sparked a new wave of outrage against the government and tarnished the army's reputation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared solemn, having exchanged his 'warlord' black shirt for a more formal suit, to address the Israelis living in doubt about the three casualties, "They were one step away from freedom when disaster struck… It burns my heart… The whole country is mourning."
The Israeli military immediately clarified that "three men emerged from a building shirtless, waving a white piece of cloth on the end of a stick. A sniper, mistaking them for terrorists and perceiving a threat, opened fire… breaching the rules of engagement we operate under."
Five Killed by Friendly Fire
Against this backdrop, the unofficial forum representing the families of Israeli detainees in Gaza decided to intensify pressure on the government by moving their center of activity to Kirya, the army's headquarters. This forces members of the war council to pass by them daily, facing the giant images of their loved ones, "to present a plan for the release of all hostages."
The "unfortunate" incident, as the paper states, has opened the eyes of Israelis to the chaos within the sector and to the direct battles resulting in the daily announcement of new losses for the Israeli army. It is reported that 20% of the soldiers killed since the start of the ground assault were due to 'friendly fire.' Amongst reserve soldiers, rumors suggest that this figure might be as high as 50%.
An Israeli army officer stated, "You have to understand that we're fighting an enemy who wears jeans and sneakers, some of them suicide attackers without visible weapons."
However, voices condemning the violence remain rare, and Palestinian casualties continue to be marginalized. Noam Peri, whose father is still being held in Gaza, said, "I embrace the leaders of the Israeli army, including the soldiers involved in this tragedy. We thank the Chief of General Staff and the directors of Mossad and Shin Bet who are working day and night to revive negotiations."
The newspaper pointed out that Netanyahu, who politically benefits from the continuation of the fighting and faces pressure from his right-wing flank, has no intention of changing his approach. Sharing the content of a message received from the families of the killed soldiers, he says, "I received a mandate to fight, not to stop mid-way."
Yet, according to the paper, the situation is worsening, with escalating tensions on the Lebanese border, the Red Sea closing in, and the collapse of international support.
