IDF says soldier seen firing volley toward Gaza in viral video may face consequences
Clip disseminated widely online by anti-Israel activists appears to show Golani troop opening fire along border fence; IDF: Incident ‘does not comply with orders,’ will be probed
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The army says it is investigating after a video making the rounds on social media in recent days appeared to show a soldier firing a volley of bullets along a border fence, seemingly not as part of any military operation.
According to the Kan public broadcaster, the video was initially uploaded by the soldier himself, a member of the Golani Brigade, depicting him firing toward Gaza “in honor of the new year.”
The Ynet news site reported that the video was filmed on December 26, 2025, and was circulated widely online by pro-Palestinian activists, racking up millions of views.
The soldier is not wearing a helmet or a ballistic vest, indicating he is not involved in any operational activity.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces said that “the soldier documented in the video acted contrary to regulations, firing in an unprofessional manner that does not comply with orders.”
The military added that the incident “will be thoroughly investigated” and that the soldier will face consequences “based on the findings.”
Throughout two years of war in Gaza, many anti-Israel activists have scoured the social media profiles of IDF soldiers and reservists looking for questionable and illicit activity and, in some cases, using the profiles to seek charges against them when they travel abroad.
תיעוד שהעלה לוחם צה"ל לסטורי שלו בו הוא נראה יורה לעבר רצועת עזה "לכבוד השנה החדשה" הופץ ברשתות החברתיות וצבר מיליוני צפיות. דובר צה"ל: "פעל בניגוד לנהלים. האירוע יתוחקר לעומק"@roysharon11 pic.twitter.com/4LOEUT1VpI
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) January 5, 2026
The IDF has launched similar investigations against such unauthorized activity in the past.
In March 2025, the IDF pulled a platoon of reservists out of Gaza after a video posted to social media showed the troops opening fire during the reading of the Book of Esther on Purim.
The IDF opened an investigation in May 2024 after soldiers filmed themselves burning books, including a Quran, during operations in the Gaza Strip. Two months earlier, photos and videos of IDF soldiers playing with lingerie found in Gaza went viral, leading to widespread condemnation.
An IDF investigation published in January 2025 found that military discipline was increasingly relaxed as the fighting in Gaza dragged on. The probe found that “operational fatigue” had led to a “loosening of discipline and safety in the various units.”
Emanuel Fabian contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.