In December 2023, Israeli soldiers killed three Israeli captives in Gaza City’s Shujaiya neighbourhood despite them being shirtless, waving a white flag and posing no apparent threat.

“A man, no matter what age, don’t play games with it; kill immediately,” one soldier said, describing the orders they received.

His testimony was given to Iris Haim, the mother of an Israeli captive killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, and aired on Channel 13’s investigative programme on Thursday.

“I fired one bullet, and he didn’t die,” the soldier told Yotam’s mother. He said his weapon then jammed before another soldier told him: “Let me finish it.”

Asked whether unarmed individuals were also shot, the commander replied: “Of course, we need to kill him - yes, even if he is completely unarmed.”