Khaberni - "Haaretz" newspaper disclosed quoting Israeli soldiers and field commanders that the operations of looting properties, houses, and shops by Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon have become almost a routine phenomenon.
According to testimonies, the theft of motorcycles, televisions, art paintings, carpets, and furniture has become a common practice among soldiers, as stolen goods are openly transported upon leaving Lebanese territory; soldiers load the stolen equipment onto their vehicles without trying to hide it.
The report quoted a fighter saying that it is done on a very wide scale, and anyone who finds something takes it immediately and puts it in their vehicle, openly, as everyone sees.
The newspaper noted that some military police checkpoints that were set up at border crossings to prevent looting have been removed, while other checkpoints were never established, facilitating soldiers’ exit loaded with belongings.
The testimonies explained that some commanders only reprimand or show disapproval, while others completely ignore the issue, making punishments absent and the message clear to the soldiers.
The newspaper added that military leadership, both at the field level and higher levels, are aware of these practices, without taking effective steps to stop or curtail them.
Some soldiers link the continuation of fighting to the lack of involvement of the military police investigative unit in pursing looting cases, especially among reserve soldiers who serve for extended periods. Moreover, the extent of destruction in infrastructure and properties due to military operations has exacerbated the phenomenon, as some soldiers feel that "since everything will be destroyed, it doesn’t matter if they take something."
For its part, the Israeli army responded by saying that it views "with utmost seriousness" any tampering with civilian properties and strictly prohibits acts of looting, ensuring that each claim is thoroughly investigated.
It added that it takes disciplinary and criminal actions when needed reaching the presentation of indictments, and that the military police conduct searches at the northern border crossing during exit from combat.
