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<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Israeli troops selling loot
stolen from Gaza and Lebanon, investigation reveals</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits">By Mera
Aladam</div>
<div class="gmail-meta-data">
<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">March
5, 2025</div>
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<p><a
href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank"
moz-do-not-send="true">Israeli </a>soldiers have
been selling looted valuables from <a
href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/topics/israel-war-gaza"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">Gaza </a>and
<a
href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/lebanon" target="_blank"
moz-do-not-send="true">Lebanon</a>, a new
investigation has revealed.</p>
<p>A report by Hamakom Hachi Ham Bagehenom (The
Hottest Place in Hell) compiled numerous testimonies
of thefts allegedly committed by members of the
Israeli army. These included large sums of cash,
jewellery, electronic devices, and even vehicles.</p>
<p>These items were later sold on Telegram channels,
Facebook Marketplace, or in public sales. </p>
<p>A commander in the Nahal Brigade, using the
pseudonym Eitan to remain anonymous, explained that
while soldiers initially took items as souvenirs,
the thefts soon escalated.</p>
<p>Searching soldiers' bags became a lower priority,
as "it was the whole battalion. Soldiers were doing
it everywhere, and they managed to hide it
everywhere."</p>
<p>The real issue arose when it wasn't just the
younger troops looting, but also sergeants taking
part in the thefts.</p>
<p>"A senior commander taking equipment from people's
homes in Gaza, with the full knowledge of the
company sergeant and the company commander. I went
to my sergeant and asked him what was the matter. He
said it really looked bad, but that there was
nothing he could do about it," Eitan said. </p>
<blockquote>
<p>'I've heard of situations where significant
amounts were taken, thousands and tens of
thousands of shekels'</p>
<p><em>- Omar, Israeli soldier</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>According to the investigation, the stolen items
being sold are typically incriminating, making them
unsuitable for normal use.</p>
<p>This includes jewellery with Arabic inscription, as
well as ammunition and weapons, which would raise
suspicion if used. </p>
<p>"It's much easier to take cash than to take
something and sell it. I've heard of situations
where significant amounts were taken, thousands and
tens of thousands of shekels - bills are the easiest
thing in the world," another soldier, Omar, told the
publication.</p>
<p>"It's not unreasonable to think that some of the
items were taken to be sold, but I also know that
many people recognise this goes beyond reasonable
limits, so they make a point to hide it. Those who
sell won’t be eager to talk about it with their
friends right away."</p>
<p>Omar added that those in positions of authority did
not see a problem with such actions. He explained,
"At the higher levels, they turned a blind eye,"
noting that they are not concerned with addressing
the looting.</p>
<p>The soldier believes that there is also looting
taking place amongst commanders, with items that are
even more valuable. </p>
<div>
<p><a
href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/report-reveals-israel-vast-loot-gaza-lebanon-syria"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><img
src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/read_more/public/images-story/000_36497UB%20%281%29.jpg.webp?itok=HPMvrxEC"
width="400" height="250" alt=""
class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img"
moz-do-not-send="true">
</a></p>
<p>Report reveals vast loot Israeli soldiers took
from Gaza, Lebanon and Syria</p>
<p>
<br>
</p>
</div>
<p>The report stated that when money or ammunition was
found, soldiers were required to inform their
superiors, who would then notify the Booty Clearance
Unit (Yahpash) of the army's Technological and
Logistics Directorate.</p>
<p>One month into Israel's war on Gaza, the unit
reported five million shekels ($1.3m) confiscated
from the besieged enclave and deposited into the
state treasury. Today, the figure stands at 100
million shekels ($27.6m) in cash from Gaza and
Lebanon combined.</p>
<p>Last week, a new report by Israeli outlet Ynet
outlined the vast amounts of<a
href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-senior-official-tells-soldiers-looting-gaza-homes-impermissible"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"> valuables
stolen by Israeli soldiers</a> from <a
href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/syria" target="_blank"
moz-do-not-send="true">Syria</a>, Lebanon and
Gaza, including boxes of cash valued at nearly $28m,
gold bars, luxury jewellery and 183,000 pieces of
weaponry.</p>
<p>The looting was so widespread that soldiers joked
they “broke their backs” from carrying the stolen
items. </p>
<p>Most of the looting has been conducted by and
collected by <a
href="https://www.972mag.com/israeli-soldiers-looting-gaza/"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">special
army units</a> dedicated to "seizing" money and
other property from “enemy” territory. But
"independent" looting by soldiers has also been
rampant. </p>
<p>During the ongoing invasions of Syria, Lebanon and
Gaza, soldiers have seized enough pieces of weaponry
to form a small army, according to Ynet.</p>
<h3>War crimes and violations</h3>
<p>Looting, pillaging and theft by military forces is
<a
href="https://casebook.icrc.org/a_to_z/glossary/pillage" target="_blank"
moz-do-not-send="true">prohibited by international
law</a>, and constitutes a war crime. Spoilation,
the act of removing items belonging to vulnerable
communities and civilians, is also considered
illegal.</p>
<p>Such violations have been largely seen as <a
href="https://x.com/ireallyhateyou/status/1809759383821160470"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">normalised
</a>amongst the Israeli public, with some of the
most recent case involving theft from houses in the
occupied <a
href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/tags/west-bank" target="_blank"
moz-do-not-send="true">West Bank</a> during
military raids.</p>
<div>
<p><a
href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hind-rajab-foundation-prosecuting-israeli-soldiers-war-crimes"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"><img
src="https://www.middleeasteye.net/sites/default/files/styles/read_more/public/images-story/gaza-israeli-soldiers-afp-2024.jpg.webp?itok=D_ZPYxDQ"
width="400" height="250" alt=""
class="gmail-moz-reader-block-img"
moz-do-not-send="true">
</a></p>
<p>The Hind Rajab Foundation: Pursuing Israeli
soldiers worldwide for Gaza war crimes</p>
<p>
<br>
</p>
</div>
<p>One clip shows what seems to be the<a
href="https://x.com/qudsn/status/1897092572578771197" target="_blank"
moz-do-not-send="true"> looting of property</a> in
Jenin, with boxes piled in a wheelbarrow and
soldiers taking random home items. </p>
<p>In February last year, the former <a
href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel" target="_blank"
moz-do-not-send="true">Israeli </a>army chief of
staff, Herzi Halevi, warned soldiers against <a
href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-senior-official-tells-soldiers-looting-gaza-homes-impermissible"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">looting
homes in Gaza</a> after numerous videos emerged
showing houses being vandalised and ransacked.</p>
<p>According to the Israeli <a
href="https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/bkz0cp2it" target="_blank"
moz-do-not-send="true">Ynet </a>news website,
Halevi has asked commanders and soldiers to refrain
from theft, unnecessary graffiti on the walls and a
"breakdown of discipline".</p>
<p>He pointed to several videos posted <a
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkkEm_8LZTM"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">online</a> that
showed violent and provocative acts that appeared to
have little to do with furthering the stated aim of
destroying Hamas. </p>
<p>In one <a
href="https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1728624619777888739?s=20"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">video</a>,
a soldier boasts about stealing a silver necklace
from Gaza to take back to his girlfriend in Israel.
Another video shows a soldier stealing a rug from a
Palestinian home, and a third shows a soldier
stealing a traditional mirror from a house.</p>
<p>Other videos show an Israeli officer<a
href="https://x.com/ireallyhateyou/status/1734227436970078711?s=20"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"> stealing
make-up</a> to take as a gift to Israel and a
soldier <a
href="https://x.com/MiddleEastEye/status/1733943363794018355?s=20"
target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true">setting
fire</a> to food and water supplies.</p>
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