Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement on Friday asserting that Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) personnel are under strict orders to avoid harming civilians during military operations.
The statement, released by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned recent reports in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which alleged that IDF soldiers had been instructed to shoot unarmed Gazans waiting for humanitarian aid. Describing the accusations as “contemptible blood libels,” the leaders rejected the claims as “malicious falsehoods.”
“The IDF is the most moral military in the world,” the statement read. “Its soldiers receive clear orders to avoid harming innocents—and they operate accordingly.”
Acknowledging the challenges faced by Israeli forces, the statement noted that the IDF is fighting a “terrorist enemy that operates out of a civilian population and hides behind it.” It accused Hamas of weaponizing civilian infrastructure and spreading misinformation to undermine Israel’s international legitimacy.
Netanyahu and Katz urged the global community to support Israel in its “just and moral fight against the murderous Hamas terrorist organization.”
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres renewed his call for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza, underscoring the urgent humanitarian crisis. In a post on X, he stressed the importance of not allowing the suffering in Gaza to be overshadowed by the broader Israel-Iran conflict.
“The ceasefire between Iran and Israel offers hope. And hope is more needed than ever. It’s time for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate & unconditional release of all hostages, and full, safe & sustained humanitarian access,” Guterres wrote.
The ongoing war erupted after Hamas’ October 2023 assault on Israel, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a full-scale military campaign against Hamas, pledging to dismantle the group.
