Palestinian Resistance Uncovers Israeli Special Forces Disguised as Civil Defense in Rafah
Gaza (Quds News Network)- Israeli special forces disguised as members of the Palestinian Civil Defense were uncovered in Rafah, southern Gaza, by resistance fighters today, according to Israeli media reports. The covert Israeli unit, which infiltrated the area through the Kerem Shalom crossing, was confronted by the resistance, resulting in casualties and injuries among the Israeli forces.
The use of Civil Defense uniforms as a disguise has raised serious concerns about further Israeli violations of international law. Under the laws of armed conflict, such actions are considered perfidy—a war crime that involves deceiving an adversary by using protected symbols or civilian disguises to carry out military operations.
International law explicitly prohibits combatants from disguising themselves as civilians or protected personnel, such as humanitarian or civil defense workers, during military operations. These groups are safeguarded under the Geneva Conventions, and disguising armed forces as such violates the principle of distinction, which requires all parties in conflict to differentiate between combatants and civilians. Civilians and those performing humanitarian duties are granted specific protections, and using their uniforms to deceive the enemy not only undermines these protections but also endangers genuine aid workers and civilians.
The incident in Gaza is a clear breach of these principles, with Israeli forces reportedly exploiting the neutral and protected status of Civil Defense personnel to attempt military infiltration.
This discovery comes amid Israel’s continued genocide in Gaza, with repeated attempts to penetrate the northern regions, particularly the Jabalia refugee camp. Since October 6, 2024, Israeli forces have been engaged in their third ground incursion in the area over the past year. Palestinian factions have reported clashes with Israeli troops throughout the Strip, highlighting their resistance to the ongoing operations.
