Reports from Israeli media have recently highlighted instances of Israeli occupation soldiers looting Palestinian possessions during the current genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. This revelation is among several acts of immoral conduct demonstrated by the Israeli occupation forces (IOF), underscoring concerns about the behavior of military personnel in Gaza.

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth provided an account from a reserve unit doctor who asserted that "Israeli soldiers stole mobile phones, electric brooms, motorcycles, and bicycles."

The newspaper detailed that Israeli soldiers are releasing videotapes on social media platforms bragging about their thefts and gleefully documenting their actions, citing the example of the soldier who boasted about the football jerseys he stole from a Palestinian home and reserve soldiers bragging about luxurious meals they prepared using products looted from Palestinian homes in Gaza.

Additional videos posted on social media in recent months showcase Israeli soldiers shamelessly displaying their thefts, including wristwatches, a collection of soccer shirts, and pilfering items, such as rugs, groceries, and jewelry.
 
One soldier highlighted that the act of looting was not a hidden occurrence; in fact, some of their superiors were also involved in such activities.

In addition to the plundering of Palestinian possessions, Israeli soldiers regularly consume the food they loot from the homes of Gaza, as they film themselves preparing meals in the houses they shelter themselves in.

Israeli soldiers looting Palestinian belongings during ‘military operations’ in Gaza incl gold, antiques, money, mobile phones, & laptops worth tens of millions of dollars, then publishing the crimes on social media
Via @EuroMedHRAr https://t.co/EBRo9duKOLpic.twitter.com/Iguv0iCiNJ

— ♡ ✦ Ᾰnnie ✦ ♡ (@Betelgeuse100) December 29, 2023

Discussing the soldiers' involvement in theft, Israeli media pointed out that it is "not just about meeting physical needs or necessarily being driven by greed, rather it also serves as an expression of the instinct for revenge."

They also emphasized that "the act of Israeli soldiers looting belongings in Gaza symbolizes an ultimate form of triumph."

Looting is also seen as a form of economic retaliation, often accompanying property destruction, including the burning of homes without apparent reason. Israeli media highlighted that "looting is not a deflection from the war but rather a continuation of the cycle of revenge and retaliation. This is why the army's General Staff hesitates to eradicate it."

Not an isolated incident

According to the Israeli publication +972 Magazine, Israeli occupation forces (IOF) have come out and blatantly described that looting Palestinian homes has now become a routine behavior in Gaza.

The IOF have not hesitated to broadcast themselves on social media cheerfully destroying buildings and humiliating Palestinian prisoners. Some of these videos were even included in South Africa's presentation to the International Court of Justice last month as proof of genocide. 

In November, Palestinian singer Hamada Nasrallah was taken aback when he saw a TikTok video of an IOF member playing the guitar his father had gifted him. Footage shows IOF gloating about finding watches, unwrapping collections of soccer jerseys, and stealing other items. 

In December,  Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor reported that the IOF not only authorized their soldiers in the Gaza Strip to engage in killings but also to partake in thug-like property theft and looting during raids on Palestinian civilian homes.

Read more: IOF admit to excavating Gaza graves amid organ theft accusations

Euro-Med Monitor highlighted several instances where Israeli soldiers were involved in or witnessed the intentional theft of assets and money from Palestinian civilians, including items such as laptops, jewelry, and substantial amounts of cash.

According to Maariv, the IOF also stole 54.29 million dollars from the Bank of Palestine in its Gaza headquarters, after storming it last week. 

Rabbis and religious leaders have even issued decrees on what is permissible to steal from Palestinians according to Jewish law.

Foreign Affairs: Myth of 'Israel's moral Army'

In a recent op-ed for Foreign Affairs, Avner Gvareyahu, the Executive Director of the "Israel"-based non-profit Breaking the Silence, explains the myth of the Israeli military's morality. 

In his piece, Gvareyahu calls out the disproportionate response "Israel" has opted to impose on Gaza. To highlight the severity of the tragedies in Gaza, Gvareyahu compares it with the stance of the United States, which has, willingly and fiercely, supported the Israeli response since October 7.

He points out that "Israel" has not exercised what has been required of it by the United States in terms of showing restraint in killing civilians. He revisits and refutes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's claims of "Israel" having the "most moral army in the world" after he asserted that the occupation is working tirelessly to minimize civilian deaths.

Gvareyahu details that the occupation forces have not followed war protocols or restrictions [which he had deemed insufficient] that had been set to curtail civilian deaths, but instead, they had disregarded them. 

Gvareyahu then reveals that there is no tangible explanation for demolishing whole structures for one apartment that is not defined as a military target, probably did not house a freedom fighter at the time of the attack, and was not even used for military activities. But when condemnations arose, an IOF spokesperson coined these apartments as "Hamas headquarters", justifying their destruction. 

Read next: Almost 70% of Gaza homes damaged or destroyed: WSJ