IDF soldier debunks media distortion that troops were firing on starving civilians

The soldier claimed looters coordinated their movements to evade drone surveillance and often returned with reinforcements.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

An Israel Defense Forces soldier, identified only as “Y” for security reasons, has provided a detailed account of a violent incident at a Gaza humanitarian corridor, challenging media reports that Israeli troops fired on starving civilians.

Speaking with The Media Line, “Y” described scenes of chaos, violence and calculated provocation as he guarded one of three designated aid delivery zones in southern Gaza.

“This wasn’t combat with terrorists—it was worse,” he said. “We saw people trampling each other, stealing food and fighting. We’re trained for war, not riot control.”

According to “Y,” the distribution site was overrun multiple times by organized crowds. They showed up on foot, motorcycles, horses—some with sacks, some with knives.

It was a stampede, not a line,” he said. He claimed looters coordinated their movements to evade drone surveillance and often returned with reinforcements.

Most disturbing to him was the July 20 incident, which gained international attention. He said the disturbance began the night before, when trucks arrived early.

Though the area was closed, men gathered to loot. The following morning, a mass of adult men—no women or children—charged the IDF position near the food trucks.

“We fired warning shots, used megaphones, even flash grenades. Nothing worked,” he recalled.

“Gunfire came from behind the crowd. They weren’t there for aid—they were sent to create a scene.”

“Y” claimed Hamas deliberately engineered the confrontation to produce dramatic media footage. “They used the crowd as cover, and cameras were already rolling when the violence started,” he said.

He insisted the soldiers only opened fire as a last resort to defend themselves and the site. Names later released confirmed that the dead were all adult males.

He rejected accusations of famine in Gaza as misinformation. “There is food,” he said. “But Hamas blocks access to manipulate world opinion. They want pictures of starving children. That’s their weapon.”

COGAT, Israel’s military coordination unit, also disputes the famine claims. “Aid is not being restricted by us,” said Col. Abdullah Halabi. “We’ve allowed in more than 23,000 trucks.”

“Y” remains skeptical of proposals to return distribution control to UNRWA, calling the agency “indistinguishable from Hamas.”

His conclusion: “A ceasefire can’t mean withdrawal. There must be a buffer. We can’t afford another October 7. And no matter what the headlines say—we’ll keep doing the job.”