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The IDF has been accused of many things...
The Goldstone Report Response
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has over 700,000 citizen soldiers and reservists who are expected to live up to the IDFs ethical standards. In any army, some soldiers violate the rules of combat. In the IDF, all alleged violations are investigated, and offenders are punished.Yet today, there is an attempt to defame the IDF through allegations that there were instances of misconduct during Israel's Gaza operation. The accusations are based on unverified hearsay, and are proving to be false. Many IDF soldiers feel a deep sense of injustice at how some are misrepresenting them and the IDF. We want to tell you, the public, about our personal experiences. Listen to our stories on this site.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has over 700,000 citizen soldiers and reservists who are expected to live up to the IDFs ethical standards. In any army, some soldiers violate the rules of combat. In the IDF, all alleged violations are investigated, and offenders are punished.
Yet today, there is an attempt to defame the IDF through allegations that there were instances of misconduct during Israel's Gaza operation. The accusations are based on unverified hearsay, and are proving to be false.
Many IDF soldiers feel a deep sense of injustice at how some are misrepresenting them and the IDF. We want to tell you, the public, about our personal experiences. Listen to our stories on this site.
"Before they were ready to carry out their attack, they sent a child to do it for them."
"We couldn’'t believe that somebody would use an ambulance from a local children'’s hospital to transport weapons for terrorists."
"We wanted to clean it up but there was no water. So we used our own drinking water to clean up the house, and we left it even cleaner than it was when we entered."
"Despite the daylight, I took two of my soldiers and went outside something like 100 meters in a hostile street in order to save his animals."
"In essence, we chose life for our enemy above life for our own."
Hear our stories.
Pinchas, age 29, is a Politcal Science student. He served in an elite IDF infantry unit and today performs almost 70 days of reserve service each year. During the operation against Hamas in Gaza, his unit was called to duty for additional service. Pinchas speaks about finding rocket launchers in a Palestinian ambulance and escorting a terrorist bomb-maker who helped the soldiers discover explosives hidden under civilian facilities such as schools and clinics.
See this video on YouTube
Ran is a 25 year-old law student and a sergeant-major in the Israeli army reserves. Ran spends at least 45 days a year doing reserve duty in the IDF's special forces Maglan. As part of his mandatory reserve duty, Ran has fought Palestinian terrorists in Jenin and other terrorist strongholds in the West Bank. He was also part of the IDF ground forces that fought Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon in the summer of 2006. Ran tells of the time he and his men risked their lives to rescue a nine-year old Palestinian girl being used by Palestinian terrorists to entrap Israeli soldiers.
Nina is 24 years old and studies government at university. She served as a commander of a combat medical course in the Israeli army for almost three years. She attends IDF reserve duty for more than a month each year at the Medic Division of the Home Front Command and was called up during Israel's recent campaign against Hamas in Gaza. She says that in training, IDF medics are taught "medicine first," even when faced with treating a badly injured terrorist over their fellow IDF soldiers.
Sameul is 25 year old goverment student who served as a 2nd sergeant in the Golani Brigade. Samuel describes how he helped a blind Palestinian reach the city of Nablus, taking him as close as he could get to the man's home with his military Hummer despite the constant threat of gunfire from terrorists.
Inon is a 25 year-old law and government student. He served as a lieutenant in the Golani brigade for four years and now serves in the IDF reserves. He fought in the second Lebanon War in 2006 leading troops in the battle against Hizbollah. Inon recounts how he and his unit were in combat with Hizbollah terrorists in Lebanon when they saw an elderly woman shouting out in pain. As he and a medic approached her in an attempt to treat her, they realized she was wired to a suicide bomb belt and was being used by Hizbollah as a human trap for the soldiers. "This is what we are up against," says Inon.
Jeremy, 24 years-old, fought in the ground war against Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006. Jeremy describes how his unit discovered a Hezbollah hideout but was ordered not to destroy the hideout because the terrorists were using civilians as human shields inside. The IDF chose to protect the lives of the Lebanese civilians even though it meant letting Hezbollah terrorists go free.
Amir, age 25, is a business and economics student. He serves in the Israeli army reserves where he works as a paramedic in the Givati unit. His unit has been called up to fight against Hamas terrorists in Gaza numerous times, including during the recent campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Amir describes a time he once came across a pregnant woman in labor in Gaza and coordinated with Palestinian medical workers to get her to a hospital.
Gil is a 26 year-old law student and a combat soldier in the Israeli army reserves. Gil was called into active duty to fight Hamas in the Gaza Strip, with the aim being to stop Hamas rocket fire into southern Israel. Gil had just finished a month of training, which is required annually for all reserves, and had started to get involved in his studies when he got the call. But after years of watching missiles being shot into towns in southern Israel, there was no question that he would take on a mission to end these attacks on Israeli civilians.
Shane is a 23 year old student who served as a 1st sergeant in an IDF special forces unit. He describes how the IDF is made up of ordinary Israelis who have families and regular jobs and who have a respect for family values.
Idan, age 37, is an information systems manager in Intel. He serves in an elite IDF Givati Unit. During operation "Cast Lead" against Hamas in Gaza, he was in command of several platoons of soldiers. Idan tells about the orders he gave to his soldiers, to ensure that the damage to the local civilians will be minimized, and so they understand that the IDF is fighting against the terrorists and not against the Palestinian population.
Zadok
SoldiersSpeakOut.com is a grassroots movement of Israelis who have served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and want to share their experiences via our amateur videos.Israeli civilians face many threats to their security, which is why army service is mandatory for most young men and women after they finish high school. Men typically serve three years while women serve two years in the army. After their army service, most men and some women are required to do army reserve duty for some 30 days each year until they are in their 40's, sometimes longer.
SoldiersSpeakOut.com is a grassroots movement of Israelis who have served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and want to share their experiences via our amateur videos.
Israeli civilians face many threats to their security, which is why army service is mandatory for most young men and women after they finish high school. Men typically serve three years while women serve two years in the army. After their army service, most men and some women are required to do army reserve duty for some 30 days each year until they are in their 40's, sometimes longer.
Noam, age 24, is a Law Student in Tel Aviv University. He serves as an officer in the Givati Unit. Noam speaks about the risk he and his soldiers dealt with in order to avoid any innocent casualties. Despite the intentions of the Hamas, he and his team did the best to avoid any unecessary harm.
Lior is a second year Law student at IDC Herzeliya. He tells of a time he was manning a long-distance nightvision camera watching over a no-man's area when two people were spotted there. Though they were obviously targets determined by both ground and air surveillance, the decision to engage was repeatedly negative.
Yaron served in Paratroopers during his service. In his testimony he describes how important it was to the IDF to fight as humanely as possible, even as they fight terror that inherently has no moral backing.
Aviad served in an elite Givati IDF unit for three years. In his interview he describes how the Palestinian civilians in Gaza felt safer under the IDF's protection than being exposed to the Hamas terror.
Press and Media Coverage
Print and Web Newspapers
Jerusalem Post-"Breaking the Rules"-click here.
Arutz Sheva-"'Breaking the Silence' vs. 'Soldiers Speak Out' on Cast Lead"-click here.
Christian Science Monitor-"Group rallies Israeli soldiers to combat Gaza allegations."
-click here.
The Spectator (UK)-
"Where is all this heading?"-click here.
Haaretz-"IDF soldiers give testimonies to counter Gaza war crimes claims"-click here.
Jewish Chronicle (UK)-
"Soldiers defend IDF's conduct"-click here.
Video, Audio, and Other
Galei Tzahal talks about Soldiers Speak Out.
Click here to join our facebook group.
Michael Dickson speaks about Soldiers Speak Out on a tv news broadcast:
Click here to
see this video on YouTube
Daniel, age 21, served in the Golani Brigade and was in Gaza for fifteen days. He talks about the IDF's extreme care for the safety of the Palestinian civilians, and the type of enemy the IDF is fighting; one that actively places children in the middle of their fight. The IDF works to minimize the affect of war on civilians even going so far as to clean a private home and leave food for the inhabitants.
Yehoshua, age 26, served as a First Sergeant in the Golani Brigade. In his interview he speaks about finding ammunition in school yards, civilian houses, and even in ambulances being let through the border for humanitarian aid.
Yoni, age 22, served as a Staff Sergeant in Paratroopers Brigade 202. In his videos he talks about the extent to which the IDF restrains its self in order to preserve civilian life even in the face of clear intelligence of extreme danger.When they left homes they had been in, they cleaned them thoroughly. When there was a water shortage, they used their own drinking water to clean the floors, leaving the house cleaner than it was when they entered.
Yoni, age 22, served as a Staff Sergeant in Paratroopers Brigade 202. In his videos he talks about the extent to which the IDF restrains its self in order to preserve civilian life even in the face of clear intelligence of extreme danger.
When they left homes they had been in, they cleaned them thoroughly. When there was a water shortage, they used their own drinking water to clean the floors, leaving the house cleaner than it was when they entered.
Have our soldiers speak to you.
Many of the soldiers who are featured on this site and are taking part in our project are available to speak around Israel and abroad.Invite us to come and speak to your group to hear personal stories and to get an insight from our IDF service. We are happy to speak to different groups, so please contact us at soldiersspeakout_gmail.com to arrange for a soldier to speak to your group.
Many of the soldiers who are featured on this site and are taking part in our project are available to speak around Israel and abroad.
Invite us to come and speak to your group to hear personal stories and to get an insight from our IDF service.
We are happy to speak to different groups, so please contact us at soldiersspeakout_gmail.com to arrange for a soldier to speak to your group.
Featured Video Testimony: Ovadia
Ovadia, age 29, is a First Lieutenant in the Nachal Brigade. He is a medical student in Jerusalem. He tells of a time he and his unit were manning a checkpoint between two Arab cities. They discovered a taxi carrying children and their mother but was filled with weapons, ammunition, and a sniper rifle. The driver used his family as a human shield because he knew the IDF wouldn't harm them if they did discover it.
Ovadia, age 29, is a First Lieutenant in the Nachal Brigade. He is a medical student in Jerusalem. He tells of a time he and his unit were manning a checkpoint between two Arab cities.
They discovered a taxi carrying children and their mother but was filled with weapons, ammunition, and a sniper rifle. The driver used his family as a human shield because he knew the IDF wouldn't harm them if they did discover it.
Go to Ovadia's page for another story
Ovadia is a 29 medical student in Jerusalem and a First Lieutenant in the IDF. He speaks about a vehicle that was carrying children, but hidden beneath them was an enormous cache of weapons and ammunition.In his second video Ovadia tells of a time he was shot in the hand while doing routine security detail. He didn't return fire because he didn't realize a gunman had come out to shoot among the children- it seemed like a rock wound, and amry regulation forbids firing on people throwing rocks.
Ovadia is a 29 medical student in Jerusalem and a First Lieutenant in the IDF.
He speaks about a vehicle that was carrying children, but hidden beneath them was an enormous cache of weapons and ammunition.
In his second video Ovadia tells of a time he was shot in the hand while doing routine security detail. He didn't return fire because he didn't realize a gunman had come out to shoot among the children- it seemed like a rock wound, and amry regulation forbids firing on people throwing rocks.
Featured
Video
-Soldiers Speak Out is constantly searching for more retired IDF soldiers to collect testimony from. Please help us by sending in names of elligible men and women who are willing to be interviewed to soldiersspeakout_gmail.com. -Ideas for improvememnt on our website are always welcome. To let us know what you think contact us at our email address.-Support us:-Soldiers Speak Out is currently looking for volunteers to inerview soldiers, manage the website, and help with publicity. Thank you!the Soldiers Speak Out team
-Soldiers Speak Out is constantly searching for more retired IDF soldiers to collect testimony from. Please help us by sending in names of elligible men and women who are willing to be interviewed to soldiersspeakout_gmail.com.
-Ideas for improvememnt on our website are always welcome. To let us know what you think contact us at our email address.
-Support us:
-Soldiers Speak Out is currently looking for volunteers to inerview soldiers, manage the website, and help with publicity.
Thank you!
the Soldiers Speak Out team
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Goldstone Vs. The Truth
The UN Human Rights Council mandated Judge Richard Goldstone to investigate 'atrocities' committed by the IDF. The result was a one-sided report that was prejudiced from the outset.Here we highlight some of the judgements of the UN report and why, from first-hand experience, these allegations are baseless.
"it has no basis to conclude that civilian lives were put at risk, as none of the reports record the presence of civilians in or near the houses in which booby traps are alleged to have been set"
"The chicken farms of Mr. Sameh Sawafeary in the Zeitoun neighbourhood south of Gaza City. Armoured bulldozers of the Israeli forces systematically flattened the chicken coops"
"In the cases investigated by the Mission, the facts gathered indicate that none of the civilians were armed or posed any apparent threat to the Israeli soldiers"
According to Goldstone Report"it has no basis to conclude that civilian lives were put at risk, as none of the reports record the presence of civilians in or near the houses in which boobytraps are alleged to have been set"
According to Goldstone Report
"it has no basis to conclude that civilian lives were put at risk, as none of the reports record the presence of civilians in or near the houses in which booby
traps are alleged to have been set"
Video showing that IDF soldiers care so much for the preservation of life that they even give medical care to opponents.
Testimony that IDF soldiers do not fire unless they are certain that their target is definitely a threat to their lives.
Human Shields
During Operation Cast Lead, Hamas used human shields to hide behind.
Proportionality
During Operation Cast Lead, the IDF did everything possible to fight only combatants and protect civilians in Gaza.
Hamas's Abuse of the Laws of War
Hamas widespread abuse of the laws of war during Israels Operation Cast Lead in Gaza earlier this year including using children in combat-support roles and recruiting women as suicide bombers to attack Israeli soldiers severely blurred the lines between civilians and combatants. (The Israel Project)
According to Goldstone Report"In the cases investigated by the Mission, the facts gathered indicate that none of the civilians were armed or posed any apparent threat to the Israeli soldiers"
Captured in this aerial footage, a Hamas terrorist plants an IED and then climbs into a house containing uninvolved civilians.
A soldier recounts a time that Hamas sent an 11 year old boy to fake a terrorist attack in order to see the IDF's reaction.
According to Goldstone Report" Armoured bulldozers of the Israeli forces systematically flattened the chicken crops"
" Armoured bulldozers of the Israeli forces systematically flattened the chicken crops"
IDF soldier Noam explains the lengths he and his fellow soldiers went to in order to take care of the chicken coups at the house he was staying in during the Gaza operation.
According to Goldstone Report"The use of Palestinian civilians as human shields and is therefore prohibited by international humanitarian law. It puts the right to life of the civilians at risk in an arbitrary and unlawful manner and constitutes cruel and inhuman treatment"
"The use of Palestinian civilians as human shields and is therefore prohibited by international humanitarian law. It puts the right to life of the civilians at risk in an arbitrary and unlawful manner and constitutes cruel and inhuman treatment"
This news clip shows Hamas calling its own people to serve as human shields.
A Hamas representative in the PA legislative council takes pride in the fact that women and children are used as human shield in fighting Israel.
According to Goldstone Report"Amnesty International also reported that it had seen no evidence that rockets had been launched from residential houses or buildings while civilians were still in them."
"Amnesty International also reported that it had seen no evidence that rockets had been launched from residential houses or buildings while civilians were still in them."
A video showing a terrorist shooting from a rooftop.
He later leaves with a women and children using them human shields
Yoni describes finding a rocket ready to launch from a window in a civilian house
Who We AreSoldiersSpeakOut.com is a grassroots movement of Israelis who have served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and want to share their experiences...Click for more
SoldiersSpeakOut.com is a grassroots movement of Israelis who have served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and want to share their experiences...Click for more
To send feedback and questions for the soldiers, or if you wish to feature your testimony, please email soldiersspeakout_gmail.com
