Amid outcry over Gaza tactics, videos of Israeli soldier behaviour create headache for military

The Israeli army has pledged to take disciplinary action in what it says are a handful of isolated cases involving its troops

Israel has faced an international outcry over its tactics in Gaza, and the rising civilian death toll in its war against Hamas

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This image made from an undated video shared on X shows Israeli troops chanting racist slogans as they dance in a circle in Gaza. Photo: X via AP

Published: 3:19pm, 13 Dec 2023Updated: 4:30pm, 13 Dec 2023

Israeli soldiers rummaging through private homes in Gaza. Forces destroying plastic figurines in a toy store, or trying to burn food and water supplies in the back of an abandoned truck. Troops with their arms slung around each other, chanting racist slogans as they dance in a circle.

Several viral videos and photos of Israeli soldiers behaving in a derogatory manner in Gaza have emerged in recent days, creating a headache for the Israeli military as it faces an international outcry over its tactics and the rising civilian death toll in its punishing war against Hamas.

The Israeli army has pledged to take disciplinary action in what it says are a handful of isolated cases.

Such videos are not a new or unique phenomenon. Over the years, Israeli soldiers – and members of the US and other militaries – have been caught on camera acting inappropriately or maliciously in conflict zones.

This image made from an undated video shared on X shows Israeli troops trying to burn food and water supplies in the back of a truck in Gaza. Photo: X via AP

But critics say the new videos, largely shrugged off in Israel, reflect a national mood that is highly supportive of the war in Gaza, with little empathy for the plight of Gaza’s civilians.