Jerusalem – Israeli soldiers in Gaza shot and killed two Palestinians and injured a third on the beach, sparking controversy. A video showed the men being shot and later pushed into the sand by a bulldozer. The military claimed they fired in response to the men disregarding warning shots.
The origin of the video remains unknown, but Al Jazeera aired it, suggesting that at least two of the men were holding white flags before being shot. This incident is part of a series of videos surfacing recently, highlighting Palestinians being shot or killed seemingly without posing a threat to Israeli forces nearby.
The Israeli army stated that the video was edited and depicted two separate incidents in central Gaza, not just one. Al Jazeera asserted that both shootings occurred on the same beachfront southwest of Gaza City.
One man in the video can be seen walking away from the Israeli forces before collapsing. He appears to raise his hands and wave a white flag before being hit. Another man is seen approaching the Israeli forces while also waving what seems to be a white flag before departing from the camera’s view.
Furthermore, the video shows the bodies of two men being dragged through the sand by an Israeli bulldozer. The military defended this action, claiming they were concerned the men might have had explosives on them. The army also mentioned that the two deceased men had bags, although none were visible in the footage presented.
The Qatari network reported that all the men in the video were attempting to return to their homes in northern Gaza after being displaced due to the conflict. This area has seen significant destruction since the start of the Israel-Hamas war approximately six months ago, hindering aid efforts for the remaining residents.
Critics argue that the Israeli military has used excessive or indiscriminate force in Gaza, resulting in numerous civilian casualties. Despite video evidence of such incidents, very few soldiers involved face legal consequences. Israel attributes civilian casualties to Hamas militants operating within civilian spaces, but it remains unclear if the military will investigate the beach shootings.
According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, Israeli fire has led to the deaths of over 32,000 Palestinians in the area. The war began when Hamas-led militants invaded southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals, primarily Israelis, and the abduction of about 250 others.