🧵From Maryland to Gaza: How a Company Commander & his soldiers are using Palestinians as human shields
On 29 Oct near 4 AM local time, a story was posted by a soldier in the “Latak” Platoon of Operational Company Mitzvait” of the 435 Rotem Battalion of the Givati Brigade ->
The story shows a collection of 3 pictures in which 2 pictures show a blindfolded Palestinian man dressed in military uniform in Jabalia Refugee Camp, where the unit is currently launching an ethnic cleansing. The soldiers are smiling and chillingly posing for a picture taken ->
from a nearby building. The picture was quickly deleted from the account after I shared it hours later
The footage captures Israeli troops clearly using a Palestinian as a human shield. This image is significant as it represents a rare and revealing case where Israeli military->
personnel are visibly identified in a war crime involving a Palestinian captive.
This investigation aims to provide international stakeholders and human rights organisations with a comprehensive account to hold those involved accountable.
The images feature three identifiable Israeli soldiers from the platoon: First Sergeants Tamir Camisa, Maor Seren, and Shir Balaly, standing in front of a blindfolded Palestinian dressed in military uniform.
All soldiers are currently operating in Jabalia Refugee Camp
Outlined below is the chain of command involved in implementing the use of a human shield.
The names highlighted in the yellow are the soldiers mentioned above
The purpose of presenting the chain of command is to underscore the systemic nature of indiscipline and misconduct throughout the ranks. The soldiers engaging in acts such as burning schools or homes and using Palestinians as human shields in Gaza are not isolated actors ->
rather, they are acting under authority granted—or at least condoned—by their commanders. Incidents like those seen in Jabalia, Rafah & other areas underscore that these violations of Intl law are part of a broader pattern. Captain Yona Kornstein, the company commander ->
authorised and highly likely engaged himself in the the use of human shields given his position as a commander of the soldiers.
Yona is a U.S. immigrant from Maryland with a troubling criminal record, including a prison sentence for attempted murder!
In a Channel 12 interview, Cpt. Kornstein shared details of his past, incl accounts of beating up people in the street, with clubs & knives and also recounted how he admitted to beating passersby for as little as refusing to give him a cigarette
He spent time in Israeli prisons.
This isn’t the first instance of the Latak Platoon using Palestinians as human shields. On May 24, Lt. Amit Nechmya, the platoon commander is seen ordering an elderly man with a partially covered face to move to an unknown location in Rafah. The video was recorded by Sgt Camisa
Other pictures shows the unit abducting and undressing two Palestinians including an elderly man in Rafah
On September 2, Sergeant Tamir Camisa filmed himself at a barbecue on the military base, boasting about how his platoon had “eliminated Gaza.”
Lt. Amit Nechmya, the platoon commander implicated in using Palestinians as human shields, has demonstrated a clear lack of discipline.
He shared photos of himself wearing women’s clothing taken from displaced Palestinian families in Gaza City. His soldiers followed his lead
Another image features 1st sergant Shapira posing with clothes of displaced Palestinians and joking around with the lingerie of women along with his team member Maor Seren.
The entire company was involved in the raid on Nasser Medical Hospital in Khan Younis back in February, and several soldiers, including Maor Seren, shared images of themselves during that operation.
Another soldier from Platoon "Ratak" shared photos of himself inside Nasser Hospital. First Sergeant Ofek Carmon posted images of him reading a book while blindfolded and semi-naked Palestinians were visible in poor condition nearby.
The company also circulated photos of themselves burning a Palestinian school and posing in front of it, captioning it: “A bit of the experiences.”
Their platoon commander, Lt. Osher Bitao, recorded himself setting fire to a home in the city of Khan Younis and shared it on his social media account.
The practice of arson became so widespread that even his soldiers joined the wave
Sgt.Danny Nagoso, from his platoon, uploaded a YouTube clip featuring a song he produced, which included a montage of him and his unit burning homes in the strip.
His fellow soldier from the same platoon, Guy Keynan also posted a photo of himself engaged in the same act in Khan Younis.
The unit has only used schools after displacing families sheltering inside as military bases
The Unit was also involved in forcibly displacing Palestinians from Khan Younis back in Fen. Sgt. Guy & his teammate Noam Amar recorded and mocked the forced displacement. I covered it back then, the military stated that an investigation was launched. Everything is still up
SECTION 2:
The soldiers involved in burning [@alijla2021] house in Tel Hawwa Gaza City was committed by Israeli soldiers of the 890 paratroopers battalion including Maor Ben David, Yair Shimoni and Oded Senvetu back in December.
@alijla2021 This house was burned in December but was very recently flattened along with other homes in the neighborhood, by Israeli soldiers from Company A of the 749 Battalion. I wrote an article about it, detailing the destruction in this area by the unit. You’re welcome to read it
@alijla2021 The video was posted by Maor Ben David showing him burning the home & was only uploaded in mar 2024. He is setting up the 2nd floor on flames
The unit took a selfie at the 1st floor of Abdelhadi family’s home. Maor is also seen inside the home’s first floor before getting burned
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