IDF soldier speaks from Gaza: I would never partake in genocide

(NewsNation) — An American serving with the Israel Defense Forces rejected accusations of genocide Wednesday, describing strict combat protocols and continuous humanitarian aid flows as the two-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack approaches.

Eli Wininger, who joined the IDF in 2016 after moving to Israel the previous year, spoke from the Netzarim corridor, a passage running from Israel through Gaza to the Mediterranean coast. He volunteered to redeploy after initially serving in Gaza following the October 2023 attack.

"The biggest reason I joined the IDF is because my grandfather is a Holocaust survivor, and I wanted to make sure that what happened to him never happens again to the Jewish people, but also to any people at all," Wininger told NewsNation. "The last thing I would do is take part in any type of genocide."

Wininger said troops cannot fire unless facing a confirmed armed militant, even in areas designated as civilian-free zones. He cited his family's history of religious persecution as motivation for ensuring such atrocities never recur.

"Our rules of engagement on the ground are incredibly strict," he said.

The soldier reported seeing hundreds of aid trucks entering Gaza daily along his position near the border, calling the flow "reassuring" and "constant."

"I think it's super important for people around the world to know that aid is going in constantly," he said.

IDF forces continue discovering tunnel networks, with troops finding a new tunnel near the Israeli border Sunday night. Wininger described the militant strategy as "whack-a-mole," with fighters emerging from underground passages.

Wininger said he expects no civilian contact for another week, when his unit moves closer to a humanitarian zone. He has had no encounters with Gaza residents during his monthlong redeployment.

The soldier said his unit anticipates remaining in Gaza for another month unless a peace agreement is reached. Nearly 1,200 people died in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the war. Gaza health officials report several thousands have died in the subsequent military campaign, though casualty figures cannot be independently verified.

Wininger said he hopes for peace, saying both Israeli forces and Gaza residents desire an end to hostilities.

"Everybody wants peace," he said as Hamas weighs a new proposal from U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at ending the war.

Israel’s defense minister Wednesday ordered all remaining Palestinians to leave Gaza City, saying it was their “last opportunity” and that anyone who stayed would be considered a militant supporter and face the “full force” of Israel’s latest offensive.

Around 400,000 Palestinians have fled the famine-stricken city since Israel launched a major offensive last month aimed at occupying it, but hundreds of thousands remain, many because they cannot afford to leave or are too weak to make the journey to tent camps in the south.

The military said at least seven projectiles were launched into Israel from Gaza, all of which were either intercepted or fell in open areas. There were no reports of casualties. Hamas’ military capabilities have been vastly depleted, but it still manages to carry out sporadic attacks.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.