Israel’s military has brought utter devastation to the Palestinians of Gaza after the attack by Hamas on Oct. 7. It is also a product of the decades-long role the military has played in enforcing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Israel has governed a people denied basic human rights and the rule of law through constant coercion, threats and intimidation. I know this through the numerous testimonies collected by my organization, Breaking the Silence, which was formed in 2004 by a group of Israeli veterans to expose the reality of Israel’s military occupation. We know firsthand and from thousands of soldiers that military occupation is imposed on civilians through fear, which is instilled by the growing and often arbitrary use of force.

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Organizations: Israel Defense Forces Locations: Gaza, Israel