LONDON: Israeli soldiers have revealed that they were allowed to shoot freely at their own discretion in Gaza, exposing a disregard for the laws of war in a new documentary set to air on UK public television Monday night.
The film, “Breaking Ranks: Inside Israel’s War,” offers rare firsthand testimonies from Israel Defense Forces soldiers who describe lawless combat during the Gaza conflict.
“If you want to shoot without restraint, you can,” Daniel, the commander of an IDF tank unit, reportedly said in the film.
Soldiers, some identified only by first names, also confirmed the IDF’s routine use of human shields, known informally as the “mosquito protocol,” contradicting official denials, and also described Israeli troops opening fire unprovoked on civilians rushing to food aid distribution points run by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
“Life and death isn’t determined by procedures or opening fire regulations. It’s the conscience of the commander on the ground that decides,” said one soldier.
The soldier detailed how recognizing the enemy on the ground became arbitrary: “If they’re walking too fast, they’re suspicious. If they’re walking too slow, they’re suspicious. They’re plotting something. If three men are walking and one of them lags behind, it’s a two-to-one infantry formation; it’s a military formation,” he said.
One incident involved a senior officer ordering a tank to demolish a building marked safe for civilians, after seeing a man hanging laundry on the roof. The strike reportedly killed several people.
According to the Gaza health authority, considered reliable by the UN, over 69,000 Palestinians have died since Oct. 7, 2023, the vast majority civilians, though many fear the actual toll is higher.
Some soldiers said they were influenced by Israeli politicians and religious leaders who framed all Palestinians as legitimate targets following Hamas’ attacks two years ago.
Daniel said claims such as those by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who declared “an entire nation out there that is responsible” for the Oct. 7 attacks, seeped into soldiers’ minds. “You hear that all the time, so you start to believe it.”
Maj. Neta Caspin, another officer, revealed military rabbis propagated genocidal mindsets, giving religious justification for mass demolitions.
“One time, the brigade rabbi sat down next to me and spent half an hour explaining why we must be just like they were on Oct. 7,” he said.
One of the most striking claims is the use of human shields forced to navigate Hamas tunnels wearing vests with smartphones transmitting GPS data to Israeli units above — a tactic dubbed the “mosquito protocol.”
Daniel explained, “You send the human shield underground. As he walks down the tunnel, he maps it all for you. The commanders saw how it works. And the practice spread like wildfire. After about a week, every company was operating its own mosquito.”
The New York Times reported in October 2024 that while IDF troops often used drones and sniffer dogs to scout Hamas tunnels and booby-trapped buildings, at times they used detainees — referred to as “wasps” or “mosquitoes” depending on origin — to aid reconnaissance.
The IDF has denied using human shields, opening internal investigations into such allegations.
The documentary also features a contractor from the GHF food distribution sites who witnessed the IDF shooting unarmed civilians. He recounted seeing soldiers fire on two young men running for aid, shooting them dead on the spot.
In response to the documentary, the IDF stated in writing that it “remains committed to the rule of law” and that allegations of misconduct are “thoroughly examined,” noting ongoing investigations by the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division.
