Three Israeli soldiers to Ap: 'Cease fire in Gaza? It's a joke"
Reservists, serving until January 2026, spoke to Associated Press outraged and saddened by what they saw. At least 929 Palestinians have been killed since the truce between Israel and Hamas began last October; 2,811 injured
'To call it a ceasefire is a joke'. This is how an Israeli soldier - interviewed by Associated Press - described the Gaza 'ceasefire' in force since last October. Along with two other fellow reservists, deployed in Gaza between October 2025 and January 2026 and then returned, he asked to remain anonymous, for fear of being ostracised by fellow soldiers. They said they decided to speak out because they were outraged and saddened by what they saw.
The three witnesses recount that, in the Strip, killings by the Israeli army would continue even during the ceasefire that came into effect in recent months. Because the rules of engagement along the so-called 'yellow line' - which separates the Israeli-controlled areas from the Palestinian ones - are often unclear, just as the line itself is barely visible (and in some places not even marked).
According to the soldiers, some commanders would formally respect the truce, but maintain an attitude inclined to fuelling the conflict. Troops would often receive ambiguous orders or directions as to who could be considered a threat, demanding quick decisions but based on incomplete information.
The soldiers' testimonies offer a glimpse of what has happened in the Israeli-controlled part of Gaza since the agreement came into force seven months ago.
There is talk of incidents in which Palestinian people were allegedly shot as they approached or crossed the line, tracing a climate in which the lives of civilians would be considered unimportant. The testimonies collected by Ap are part of a context already denounced by former military groups and independent organisations.
