Israeli Military Officer Yehuda Vach Allowed His Brother to Form Destructive Force in Gaza, Report

The report cited an Israeli officer, who explained that Yehuda Vach permitted one of his brothers to create a team made up of soldiers and settlers (usually referred to as civilians), similar to the "Hilltop Youth" settlers. The team’s mission was to destroy Gaza and demolish as many buildings as possible. Vach also provided his brothers with special treatment, enabling them to enter the Netzarim corridor in southern Gaza without any registration or scrutiny. According to the officer, Vach aimed to forcibly expel 250,000 Palestinians from their homes in northern Gaza. He was quoted as saying, "Palestinians only learn their lesson when they lose land." Several Israeli officers confirmed that Vach told them his goal was to clear northern Gaza of its residents by force, a plan he pursued alone. Soldiers from the 252nd Division reported that demolition operations in the Netzarim corridor were extensive. They stated that Vach ordered the destruction of buildings, including those 'with no strategic importance'. One soldier revealed that the division's goal was to demolish 60 buildings per day to prevent anyone from returning. A senior officer added that Vach discussed plans to relocate all northern Gaza residents to the south. He aimed for the generals’ plan, which he believed would result in victory when northern Gaza was cleared of its population. The officer described this operation as the first where soldiers were allowed to act freely in the field. Since October 5, Israel has been carrying out a devastating attack on northern Gaza, causing thousands of Palestinian casualties, displacing tens of thousands, and destroying hospitals and infrastructure under a tight siege. This ongoing genocide has continued for 15 months, with over 153,000 casualties and widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools, and hospitals.