IDF lookouts serving in two different sectors in the Gaza envelope have been warning in recent days that they have been noticing suspicious individuals and Hamas terrorists approaching the yellow line, which demarcates the IDF-controlled area in the Gaza Strip, daily. According to the lookouts, the terrorists constitute a threat, but the forces on the ground do not receive authorization to eliminate them.
Speaking to Channel 12, the soldiers claim that Hamas is taking advantage of the situation to test each time how the IDF reacts to its terrorists' actions.
One of the lookouts described a feeling that reminds her of the period leading up to the October 7th Massacre, "I feel like October 6th. The only difference is that we see it on the yellow line and not on the fence." According to the lookout, the Gazans are continuously examining whether the IDF is responding to their activities: "It's literally like before October 7th."
The lookouts above all point to the difficulty the troops have in obtaining authorization to open fire, which at times, according to them, must come from the highest echelons. One claimed that the higher the echelon needed to approve the gunfire, the harder it is to receive it quickly. However, if authorization only needs to come from the battalion commander in the field, it is obtained much faster.
The lookouts shared an unusual incident that occurred recently next to the fence. One of them recounted that she saw a suspect and reported to the troops in the field that she noticed a weapon as well as activity on the ground that raised suspicion of the possibility of an explosive device being planted. However, according to her, despite the threat being identified, no authorization was given to eliminate it.
"It got stuck up top," the lookout claimed. She shared the feeling of their hand being tied and that there is a desire to maintain silence. Although the observers see the suspects in real time and alert the troops about them, they are unable to lead to them being eliminated.
According to one lookout, she is aware that her statements may have personal and even disciplinary consequences, but she still decided to speak out. "If they tell me that I'm going to jail because of what I said, I say it's worth it."
The Prime Minister’s Office responded: “The political echelon does not restrict the IDF from eliminating any threat to our forces and citizens. In accordance with the political leadership’s directive, the Chief of Staff clarified the rules of engagement and emphasized: eliminating a threat is the responsibility of every soldier in the field, and every soldier is expected to act decisively to eliminate the threat."