Israel: shoot first, hell, we won't be held accountable

   Self-defence, my ass.

“He could have been advancing to attack,” the Israeli lieutenant explained. “We are treating everything as hostile right now. We were told not to take chances - to shoot rather than ask questions.”

Alon - he would only give his first name and rank - was part of the forces that took control of the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza. It was his first day of recuperative leave out of Gaza since Israel began its ground offensive 12 days ago.

“I'm not a newcomer in the army,” Alon told The Times. “Both my brothers served in combat units that saw action in Gaza. And I can say that this is the most aggressive line that we have ever taken towards fighting the Palestinians. As you say in English, the gloves were off.”