Afrasianet - The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said that regular and reserve soldiers of the Israeli occupation army are looting large quantities of civilian property from homes and shops in southern Lebanon, according to testimonies of soldiers and field commanders to the newspaper.
The theft of motorcycles, televisions, paintings, sofas and carpets has become a widespread phenomenon, and the top and lower leadership in the field are aware of it, but are not taking any disciplinary measures to eliminate it.
In response, the newspaper quoted the Israeli military as saying that it takes disciplinary and criminal measures when necessary, and that military police conduct searches "at the northern border crossing when leaving combat zones."
But the irony of the newspaper is that some of the military police checkpoints set up at exit points in southern Lebanon to prevent looting have been removed, and no other exit points have been set up at all.
Stealing in public
In the details of the thefts, the newspaper quoted witnesses as saying that the Israeli soldiers carried their vehicles with stolen equipment without trying to hide it, while leaving Lebanon.
"It's on a crazy scale; anyone who takes something — televisions, cigarettes, gadgets or anything else — immediately puts it in their vehicle or hides it aside, it's not inside the site, but it's not a secret. Everybody sees and understands."
According to the soldiers, some commanders ignore this phenomenon, while others condemn it, but refrain from punishing thieves.
One of them testified, saying, "With us, they don't even comment and don't get angry. The battalion commander and the brigade commander know everything." Another says, "In one field case in Lebanon, a commander caught fighters leaving in a jeep with items in it.
He shouted at them and ordered them to throw the loot, but it ended there, and it didn't get to the point of investigation." A third soldier added, "Commanders speak out against this phenomenon and say it's dangerous, but they don't do anything."
"The battalion commander and the brigade commander complain and get angry, but without action, these are just empty words," one witness explained. Another soldier added, "Leniency in law enforcement sends a clear message. If they dismiss or imprison someone, or deploy military police to the border, it would stop immediately.
But when there is no punishment, the message is clear." Indeed, the soldiers estimated that the disparity in the scale of looting between units – they say it is almost non-existent in some units, while it is widespread in others – is largely related to the level of law enforcement by commanders and the standards they instill in their subordinates.
Stealing for Service
Some soldiers have linked the continuation of fighting since October 7, 2023, to the decision not to involve military police to investigate looting committed by reservists.
"Soldiers here serve more than 500 days, and today's commanders – whether they are company commanders, battalions or even brigades – can't jail reservists, they know that discipline in the IDF has collapsed, they don't have the ability to influence it, they prefer to shut everything down quietly, so people can go back for the next round," one said.
The soldiers also noted that looting is expanding in light of the widespread destruction of infrastructure and property in the aftermath of military operations; "The soldiers say to themselves: 'What difference does it make if you take it? It will be destroyed anyway.'"
