Israeli soldiers have accused their commanders of ordering live fire on unarmed Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza, with hundreds reportedly killed and wounded in recent weeks.

IDF Troops Ordered to Shoot at Unarmed Gazans

Multiple Israeli soldiers have come forward stating they were instructed to open fire on civilians gathering around humanitarian aid centers in Gaza, even when there was no clear threat. One soldier described the situation as “a total breakdown of the Israel Defense Forces’ ethical codes.” The testimonies, shared with Haaretz, suggest this conduct was systematic and condoned by high-level commanders.

The sites in question are operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a body reportedly established through coordination between the Israeli government, U.S. evangelical figures, and private contractors close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Aid Distribution Amid Live Fire and Chaos

Since May 27, at least 549 people have been killed and over 4,000 wounded near these distribution points, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The GHF’s four “rapid distribution ”centers”—guarded from hundreds of meters away by Israeli tanks, snipers, and mortars—have been sites of near-daily shootings. Soldiers confirmed that anyone approaching the aid sites outside of the brief one-hour opening window was treated as a potential target.

“In our area, we killed between one and five people daily,” a soldier testified. “They are treated like a hostile force—live fire, grenade launchers, mortars. Our only form of communication is gunfire.”

Commanders Linked to Shoot-to-Deter Policy

Brig. Gen. Yehuda Vach, commander of IDF’s Division 252, was repeatedly mentioned in relation to these operations. One officer said Vach’s orders were clear: disperse civilians by firing at them, even if they were only waiting for aid. Another confirmed that shells were routinely fired at civilians “hiding behind mounds” near aid trucks—often teenagers—and questioned why warning shots were followed by lethal fire when civilians fled.

At least 57 civilians were killed on June 11, 59 on June 17, and around 50 more on June 24, according to figures cited in the report. Despite these numbers, Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor has so far refrained from disciplining field commanders.

Investigations and Legal Pushback

Amid growing international concern, Israel’s Military Advocate General has tasked the General Staff’s Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism with probing these incidents. Legal officials reportedly dismissed claims that the shootings were isolated or provoked. “This isn’t about a few people being killed—we’re talking about dozens of casualties every day,” one official said.

Some killings may have also been committed by armed militias such as the Abu Shabab group, reportedly supported by the IDF. One officer admitted, “Even I no longer know who’s shooting at whom.”

A Flawed System of Control

Soldiers criticized the chaotic nature of aid distribution, with Gazans receiving contradictory instructions about aid timing. In some cases, distribution was cancelled because people arrived “too early.” Contractors demolishing homes near aid sites have also fueled confrontations, with soldiers tasked to protect them often firing on civilians inadvertently caught in the area.

“Firing mortars to keep hungry people away is neither professional nor humane,” one officer said.