Did Israel Order IDF Soldiers to Shoot Unarmed Gazans?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Israeli leaders deny claims that IDF soldiers were ordered to target unarmed individuals.
- The IDF asserts its commitment to avoid civilian casualties.
- Humanitarian crises in Gaza are escalating, with increasing disease outbreaks.
- Urgent calls for medical supplies and sanitation aid are being made.
- Mass casualty incidents are affecting hospitals in the region.
Tel Aviv, June 27 (NationPress) In a strong rebuttal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz addressed claims made in a publication asserting that IDF soldiers were instructed to target unarmed Gazans seeking humanitarian aid.
Their statement declared: "The State of Israel categorically rejects the vile accusations published by the Ha'aretz newspaper, which claimed 'IDF Soldiers Ordered to Shoot Deliberately at Unarmed Gazans Seeking Humanitarian Aid.'"
They labeled these allegations as malicious fabrications aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the IDF, which they regard as the most ethical military in the world.
"The IDF functions under challenging circumstances against a terrorist adversary that operates from a civilian population, exploiting human shields and spreading a concerted campaign of misinformation to undermine the legitimacy of the State of Israel.
"IDF personnel receive explicit directives to avoid civilian casualties and conduct operations accordingly," the statement emphasized.
Israel urges all democratic nations to support it in its legitimate and ethical battle against the Hamas terrorist organization, as highlighted in the statement.
UN humanitarian organizations have reported an alarming increase in preventable diseases in Gaza due to inadequate access to clean water, sanitation, and fuel.
Furthermore, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) noted that over the past fortnight, more than 19,000 cases of acute watery diarrhea have been documented, alongside more than 200 cases of acute jaundice syndrome and bloody diarrhea, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
These outbreaks are directly attributed to the severe lack of clean water and sanitation, emphasizing the urgent demand for fuel, medical supplies, and hygiene items to avert a further decline of the public health infrastructure in Gaza.
Humanitarian partners have also reported another mass casualty event at Al Aqsa Hospital following an airstrike in Deir al-Balah.
They indicated that the hospital received over 20 deceased individuals and 70 others injured. Additional victims required transfer to Nasser Medical Complex and two other medical facilities.
OCHA remarked, "Civilians in Gaza continue to suffer fatalities or injuries daily, whether due to Israeli airstrikes, shelling, or while searching for food for their families. These heartbreaking incidents must not become normalized and must cease immediately."