- Brigadier General Yehuda Vach faces scrutiny for reckless decision-making, endangering troops, and disregarding Palestinian lives during Gaza operations.
- Vach’s actions led to the deaths of eight Israeli soldiers in Zeitoun due to inadequate safety measures.
- He advocated for displacing 250,000 Palestinians from northern Gaza and blocked humanitarian aid, worsening the crisis.
- Vach allegedly collaborated with his brother to orchestrate a campaign of home demolitions in Gaza.
- Reports reveal a broader pattern of unethical behavior by IDF soldiers, including indiscriminate killings and dehumanization.
The actions of Brigadier General Yehuda Vach, commander of the Israeli Defense Forces’ (IDF) 252nd Division, have come under intense scrutiny following a series of damning reports. Vach, who led operations in the Netzarim Corridor—a strategic strip of land bisecting Gaza—has been accused of reckless decision-making, endangering his own troops, and displaying a callous disregard for Palestinian lives. These revelations paint a troubling picture of a commander whose zeal for conquest and punishment has overshadowed ethical considerations and military prudence.
One of the most serious allegations against Vach is his role in the deaths of eight Israeli soldiers during an operation in Zeitoun, a southern neighborhood of Gaza City, in August. According to soldiers who spoke to Ha'aretz, Vach pushed his troops to advance northward without adequate preparation or safety measures. The result was catastrophic: a supply convoy either drove over a bomb or was hit by an anti-tank missile, leading to multiple casualties.
This incident highlights a pattern of reckless decision-making by Vach, who prioritized territorial gains over the safety of his troops. His aggressive tactics have not only cost Israeli lives but have also raised questions about the broader ethical standards within the IDF.
Ethnic cleansing and humanitarian blockades
Vach’s actions extend beyond battlefield decisions. He has been accused of advocating for the forced displacement of 250,000 Palestinians from northern Gaza, a move that many have likened to ethnic cleansing. In early December, Vach reportedly expressed frustration that this goal had not been achieved, stating that “only by losing land will the Palestinians learn the necessary lesson” from Hamas’ October 7 attack.
Moreover, Vach has been accused of actively blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, a move that has exacerbated the already dire humanitarian crisis in the region. “Not one truck should enter,” he allegedly told his officers, reflecting a chilling indifference to the suffering of civilians. This stance aligns with his broader worldview, as he reportedly declared that “there are no innocents in Gaza.” Such rhetoric not only dehumanizes Palestinians but also undermines Israel’s moral standing on the global stage.
Perhaps the most shocking revelation is Vach’s alleged collaboration with his brother, Colonel (res.) Golan Vach, to orchestrate a campaign of destruction in Gaza. Golan reportedly established a rogue unit called Pladot Heavy Engineering Equipment, composed of soldiers and civilians, with the sole objective of demolishing Palestinian homes.
“The mission was to go house-to-house and ensure that everything there was ready for flattening,” one soldier explained.
This unit operated with little oversight, flattening entire neighborhoods to ensure Palestinians could not return. Golan’s actions were not only destructive but also reckless. In one instance, he entered a Hamas tunnel without proper precautions, leading to a collapse that left him injured and required a two-hour rescue operation.
Multiple reports of unethical behavior by IDF soldiers
Vach’s actions are not isolated incidents. Reports of unethical behavior by Israeli soldiers in Gaza have become increasingly common, with allegations of indiscriminate killings, free-fire zones, and even competitions to rack up civilian casualties. One commander from Division 252 described a “line of corpses” north of the Netzarim Corridor, where Palestinians are shot on sight and their bodies left to rot.
Such practices reveal a disturbing erosion of moral and ethical standards within the IDF. While Vach’s actions are particularly egregious, they reflect a broader trend of dehumanization and impunity that has characterized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Brigadier General Yehuda Vach’s conduct in Gaza raises serious questions about the ethical direction of the IDF. His reckless endangerment of troops, advocacy for ethnic cleansing, and collaboration in a campaign of destruction underscore a troubling disregard for human life. Equally concerning is the broader culture within the IDF that allows such behavior to flourish unchecked.
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