Tel Aviv: The Israeli army has promoted a reserve officer who reportedly ordered soldiers to open fire on Palestinian civilians displaying white flags in central Gaza last year, according to Israeli media reports on Wednesday.
According to Anadolu Agency, the officer, whose identity remains undisclosed, has been elevated to the rank of battalion commander despite soldier testimonies alleging his directive to target unarmed civilians at the Netzarim Corridor. This area separates northern Gaza from the south and was the site of the incident first revealed by Haaretz following the Israeli army's withdrawal on January 27 under a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian group Hamas.
The retreat of the Israeli forces allowed over half a million displaced Palestinians to begin their return via the coastal Al-Rashid Street, while vehicles utilized Salah al-Din Street. In a specific incident, the officer in question reportedly ordered his troops to fatally shoot two Palestinians attempting to cross the corridor.
Despite Haaretz's previous exposure of the incident, the Israeli army has yet to initiate a formal investigation or question the officer involved. The officer is set to command an infantry unit engaged in ground operations in Gaza.
The Israeli army has not provided any immediate comments on the Haaretz report, as it continues to reject international calls for a ceasefire. Since October 2023, its offensive against Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 54,600 Palestinians, predominantly women and children.
In a related development last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions against civilians in the enclave.