🧵If you think the phenomena of IDF soldiers documenting their crimes & sharing them online is new, or that it's somehow caused by Netanyahu's right wing government or Oct 7 events, I've got news for you: it's not.
In 2010, ex-soldier Eden Abergel posted these photos on Facebook:
In 2010, ex-soldier Eden Abergel posted these photos on Facebook:
Abergel named the album "Army... The most beautiful time of my life :)"
The images went viral and caused an international outrage. In interviews with different media outlets, Abergel said she sees nothing wrong with her actions.
The images went viral and caused an international outrage. In interviews with different media outlets, Abergel said she sees nothing wrong with her actions.
IDF spokesperson commented that the photos are "blatant and ugly behavior that will be investigated", but ultimately Abergel wasn't punished in any way, supposedly because her actions demanded only an in-house disciplinary hearing, and she was already out of the army at the time.
In response to the army spokesperson's comment, @ShovrimShtika (Breaking the Silence) launched a Facebook campaign that included photos taken by IDF soldiers, posted online, which depicted them with their "trophies" - bound & blindfolded detainees or dead bodies of Palestinians.
BtS wanted to show this is not about one bad apple but rather a norm within the ranks of IDF. They wrote that this kind of behavior is an inevitable consequence of militarily controlling a civilian population, and called IDF spokesman to admit that this is a widespread phenomena.
The photos are no longer available on BtS's FB page, but I did come across similar photos, from the 08-09 Operation Cast Lead (AKA Gaza War).
So, this was always a thing. It's just that now it's more widespread than ever, and it seems like almost no Israeli is outraged by it.
So, this was always a thing. It's just that now it's more widespread than ever, and it seems like almost no Israeli is outraged by it.
*Don't pay attention to the years I added to the photos, as they are not necessarily accurate. They were all posted by BtS in 2010, and the Cast Lead photos were taken in either 2008 or 2009. I added the years so no one would share them as recent photos and spread misinformation.
Here are the two photos I was missing from the Shovrim Shtika album
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