2 Israeli army officers dismissed for running away from Gaza battlefield

By Abdul Raouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - The Israeli army dismissed two officers whose forces withdrew after being ambushed by Palestinian fighters in the northern Gaza Strip, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Monday.

The soldiers withdrew when they did not receive support after being ambushed by dozens of fighters, the newspaper added.

The newspaper noted that about half of the soldiers in the force have not returned to the unit since the dismissal of the officers.

The officers admitted that the force was sent on a mission in a bad way after engaging in another prolonged activity in the Gaza Strip without rest, the newspaper added.

This created a difficult atmosphere within the force, according to the newspaper.

The newspaper quoted the army as saying: “A crisis of confidence arises in the force, but it is being dealt with correctly by extracting lessons at all levels.”

Israel launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip following an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.

It has since killed at least 14,854 Palestinians, including 6,150 children and more than 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave. The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.

*Writing by Ziad Aslan in Ankara