- “When there is no punishment, the message is clear,” Israeli soldier says
Israeli soldiers have looted large amounts of civilian property from homes and shops in southern Lebanon with the knowledge of their commanders, the daily Haaretz reported Thursday.
Israel has announced full control over 55 villages in southern Lebanon as part of what it calls the “Yellow Line,” barring residents from returning and targeting those who approach.
Looting is not a new phenomenon among Israeli soldiers, with previous Israeli reports over the past two years documenting similar incidents during the Gaza war.
Haaretz cited unnamed soldiers and field commanders stationed in southern Lebanon as saying regular and reserve troops are looting civilian property from homes and shops.
“Theft of motorcycles, televisions, paintings, sofas and carpets has become a widespread and recurring phenomenon,” the newspaper said.
It added that both senior and field commanders are aware of the looting but have taken no disciplinary action to stop it.
According to the testimonies, soldiers load stolen items into their vehicles upon leaving Lebanon without attempting to conceal them.
‘Crazy phenomenon’
One soldier described the looting as “a crazy phenomenon.”
“Anyone who takes something like TVs, cigarettes, tools or anything else immediately puts it in their car or hides it aside. It’s no secret. Everyone sees and understands,” he said.
Other soldiers said some commanders ignore the practice, while others condemn it but refrain from punishing those involved.
“Battalion and brigade commanders know everything and they don’t complain or get angry,” one soldier said.
Another soldier said a commander once caught troops leaving with stolen items, shouted at them and ordered them to discard the goods, but no investigation followed.
A third soldier said commanders acknowledge the seriousness of the issue but take no action.
Soldiers said the looting has worsened due to a lack of oversight.
“When there is no punishment, the message is clear. If they expelled or jailed someone or deployed military police at the border, it would stop immediately,” one said.
Collapsing discipline
Soldiers said the extent of looting varies between units, with some showing little or none while others experience widespread theft, depending on enforcement by commanders.
The Israeli army said five divisions are currently operating in southern Lebanon.
Some soldiers linked the continued fighting since the Gaza war to the army’s reluctance to involve military police investigations into looting by reservists.
“Commanders know discipline has collapsed and they lack the ability to influence it, so they prefer to cover things up quietly so soldiers can return for the next rotation,” one soldier said.
Soldiers said looting has expanded amid widespread destruction of infrastructure and property following military operations.
“Soldiers tell themselves: what difference does it make if I take it? It will be destroyed anyway,” Haaretz said.
It added that looting has increased as fighting patterns in southern Lebanon have shifted, with many Hezbollah fighters moving north, leaving troops stationed for long periods in abandoned civilian areas.
The army claimed that it takes disciplinary and criminal measures when necessary and that military police conduct inspections at border crossings.
However, the newspaper said some military police checkpoints previously set up to prevent looting have been removed, while others were never established.
The Israeli army has killed more than 2,475 people, injured nearly 7,700 and displaced over 1.6 million in attacks across Lebanon since March 2.
A 10-day ceasefire announced by the US on April 16 is set to expire Sunday and has been violated daily by Israel.
Washington is expected to host a second round of preliminary talks between Lebanon and Israel at the ambassadorial level on Thursday evening in an effort to reach an agreement to end the Israeli war.
A high-level Lebanese official told Anadolu that Beirut “will request during the meeting an extension of the ceasefire and a halt to the demolition of homes and the bulldozing of houses in occupied villages.”
The meeting scheduled for Thursday evening is a follow-up to a preparatory session hosted by the US last week.
*Writing by Lina Altawell in Istanbul
