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Israeli soldiers told to avoid capture "at all costs"
Jerusalem (AFP) Jan 26, 2009 Israeli soldiers who fought in the Gaza offensive were given orders to avoid "at all costs" being captured by Palestinian fighters, a military source said on Monday. Soldiers were told to open fire on anyone trying to capture them, even if this put their own lives in danger, the source said. A lieutenant-colonel of the elite Golani unit told his men: "You must avoid at all cost that one of your be captured alive by Hamas, even if that means blowing yourself up with your grenades." But the army insisted in a statement there were no orders for soldiers to kill themselves in case of capture and that the words of the officer were "aimed at strengthening their fighting spirit." Military sources said Palestinian fighters sought on several occasions to capture Israeli soldiers during the December 27 to January 18 Operation Cast Lead. Hamas, the Islamic movement that rules the Gaza Strip, has been holding Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit since June 2006, when he was seized in a deadly cross-border raid. Related Links
Israel will defend army against war charges: Olmert
Jerusalem (AFP) Jan 26, 2009Israel will grant legal protection for soldiers who fought in the three-week war in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday amid accusations of war crimes. |
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