IDF says it’s investigating footage of troops killing unarmed man in Gaza City, claims video is ‘edited’

The IDF says it is investigating the circumstances of leaked footage published by Al Jazeera, in which Israeli troops are seen talking about killing an unarmed Palestinian man in Gaza City in November.

In the video, troops can be heard shouting “terrorist” while opening fire inside a building in Gaza City’s Shati camp. The clip then shows a soldier outside the building saying he opened fire at a man waving his hands in the air. Afterward, the troops re-enter the building to find the body of an elderly Palestinian.

In response to a query by The Times of Israel, the IDF Spokespersons Unit says the video is “edited” and that troops at the time were operating under fire in the southern part of Shati camp, which it describes as a “complex area.”

“The location in question was attacked after shooting was carried out against our forces from the area,” the IDF says.

“During the search, weapons were found, and shooting was carried out against an unarmed man who was suspected of being a terrorist and was moving towards the soldier who came to search the house,” the response continues.

“The circumstances of the incident are under investigation,” the IDF says.

At the time of the incident, the IDF had called on the Palestinian population in northern Gaza to evacuate south for their safety.

“The IDF will continue to do everything in order not to harm civilians, alongside the severe exploitation of the terrorists to shoot at our forces under the protection of civilians, women and children,” the IDF adds.

A military source tells The Times of Israel that “the vast majority” of Hamas operatives in Gaza hide among the civilian population, “and use it as a human shield.”

“The terrorists move without weapons before and after attacking our forces, and this does not indicate that they are not terrorists,” the source adds.