CITIZENS NEWS

Israeli soldiers accused of systematic looting in Gaza, selling stolen goods

By isabelle // 2025-03-06

• Israeli soldiers are accused of systematically looting Palestinian homes in Gaza, stealing cash, jewelry, and valuables, often selling them online or keeping them as gifts.
• Testimonies reveal a culture of impunity, with senior commanders allegedly turning a blind eye to widespread theft and destruction.
• Looting and destruction of civilian property are war crimes under international law, yet accountability remains minimal.
• Soldiers reportedly destroyed homes for "revenge" following the October 7 Hamas attacks, with no military justification.
• The IDF denies systemic wrongdoing, but the scale of looting and destruction raises serious concerns about adherence to international law.

Israeli soldiers have been accused of systematically looting Palestinian homes in Gaza, stealing cash, jewelry, and other valuables, and selling them online or giving them as gifts. A recent investigation by Israeli outlet Ynet and testimonies from soldiers themselves paint a grim picture of widespread theft, destruction, and a culture of impunity within the ranks of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The looting, which has been described as rampant and often condoned by higher-ups, is compounded by reports of soldiers razing civilian homes in Gaza purely for "revenge" following the October 7 Hamas attacks. The investigation, which includes testimonies from soldiers and commanders, reveals that stolen items—ranging from cash and gold bars to electronics and even vehicles—are being sold on platforms like Telegram and Facebook Marketplace. One soldier, identified only as Omar, admitted, "I’ve heard of situations where significant amounts were taken, thousands and tens of thousands of shekels." Another soldier, using the pseudonym Eitan, described how looting became so normalized that searching soldiers' bags for stolen goods became a low priority. "It was the whole battalion. Soldiers were doing it everywhere, and they managed to hide it everywhere," he said.

Looting is a war crime

The looting and destruction of civilian property in Gaza are not just morally reprehensible—they are also clear violations of international law. Under the Geneva Conventions, looting, pillaging, and the destruction of civilian property during armed conflict are considered war crimes. Yet, according to the report, senior commanders often turned a blind eye to these actions. Eitan recounted how a senior commander took equipment from homes in Gaza with the full knowledge of his superiors. "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," he said. The scale of the looting is staggering. The IDF’s "Booty Clearance Unit" (Yahpash) reported confiscating 100 million shekels ($27.6 million) in cash from Gaza and Lebanon, along with 183,000 pieces of weaponry, gold bars, and luxury jewelry. Soldiers joked that they "broke their backs" carrying the stolen items, highlighting the sheer volume of loot taken from Palestinian homes.

Destruction for "revenge"

The looting is only one facet of the IDF’s alleged misconduct in Gaza. Former IDF reservist Yuval Green, who served in Gaza, told CNN that soldiers often destroyed Palestinian homes not for military purposes but out of a desire for revenge. "People are destroying houses because they believe they should get revenge for what happened on October 7," Green said. He described witnessing "chaos" and "unnecessary" destruction, adding, "I could tell you 100% that we’ve destroyed houses at least for reasons that… we don’t care enough about the lives of Palestinians." Green also recounted how soldiers looted homes for personal gain, taking items like necklaces and leaving graffiti on walls. "People were taking ‘souvenirs’ from the Palestinians’ houses, which I think directly relates to the demonization we’ve seen before the entrance to Khan Younis," he said. Despite official disapproval from higher-ups, Green said commanders lacked the resources—or the will—to stop the behavior. The testimonies and reports suggest a troubling culture of impunity within the IDF. Soldiers and commanders alike appear to view looting and destruction as acceptable, if not outright encouraged, behaviors. One soldier boasted about stealing a silver necklace from Gaza to give to his girlfriend in Israel, while another was filmed setting fire to food and water supplies. The IDF has denied systemic wrongdoing, stating that actions "not in accordance with the army’s orders are prohibited by law" and that incidents are investigated. However, the sheer scale of the looting and destruction, coupled with the lack of meaningful accountability, raises serious questions about the IDF’s adherence to international law and its treatment of Palestinian civilians. The revelations of widespread looting and destruction by Israeli soldiers in Gaza are a damning indictment of the IDF’s conduct during the ongoing conflict. These actions, which include stealing from vulnerable civilians and razing homes for revenge, not only violate international law but also dehumanize Palestinians, reducing them to little more than collateral damage in a brutal war. Will those responsible ever be held accountable, or will the cycle of violence and impunity continue unchecked? Sources for this article include: MiddleEastEye.net MiddleEastEye.net CNN.com

terrorism Israel looting corruption evil genocide twisted conspiracy big government insanity Palestine humanitarian Gaza IDF