Gaza: Israel Denies Order to Shoot Unarmed Civilians

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a report by the Haaretz newspaper claiming that Israeli soldiers were ordered to shoot unarmed civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.

Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz called the allegations “malicious lies” aimed at tarnishing the image of the IDF. The Haaretz report cited testimonies from soldiers claiming they were ordered to shoot crowds at aid distribution centers.

While the Israeli military has admitted to opening fire on “suspects” deemed a “threat,” an army spokesperson denied that an order was given to shoot civilians. Haaretz reports that the military advocate general has commissioned an investigation into possible war crimes in cases of civilian deaths near distribution centers.