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Israeli army commander urged soldiers to ‘commit genocide’ in Lebanon – leaked dossier

An Israeli army psychiatrist has revealed that a commander encouraged his soldiers to commit “genocide” in Lebanon. (Photo: Screenshot)

From the editors of the Palestine Chronicle

An Israeli army psychiatric officer has reportedly released a dossier alleging that the new commander of one of the country's military brigades encouraged his soldiers to commit “genocide” in Lebanon.

Anadolu news agency, citing Israel's state broadcaster, reported that Adi Engert, the Alexandroni Brigade's psychiatrist, caused an uproar in an X-post late Monday when he said the brigade's new commander, Colonel Moshe Pesel, “wished genocide on the fighters.”

The post was later removed.

A document Pesel sent to the soldiers states: “Lebanon's villages are being devastated and its roads impassable,” the report continues.

Engert included the comment in her post, and images of it continued to circulate in Israeli media even after it was removed.

According to the broadcaster, Engert said that after Pesel took command, he sent a message to the brigade's soldiers saying: “A new commander has joined the brigade. First of all, I wish the fighters to commit genocide.”

“Zionism is being blasphemed” – Smotrich

On Tuesday, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich asked on X why the Israeli army had not taken action against Engert for leaking the document. Saying There is “no place” for such statements in the army.

“There is no place for such statements in the Israeli army (IDF) against a brigade commander and against the members of the religious Zionists who are on the front lines and who, to a large extent, risk their lives for the people of Israel. It is good that the Israeli army is drawing a red line against the campaign of incitement and demonization of religious Zionism,” he said.

​​​​​On Sunday, Israeli warplanes carried out more than 40 airstrikes on southern Lebanon, the heaviest attack since cross-border attacks between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah began last October.

For its part, the Lebanese group said it had fired hundreds of rockets and missiles deep into Israel as the “first phase” of its response to the assassination of its commander, Fouad Shukr, in an airstrike in Beirut last month.

Increased fighting

Since the beginning of the Israeli war against Gaza on October 7, the Lebanese Hezbollah movement has been directly involved, albeit on a relatively limited scale, in the war against the Israeli occupation.

In recent weeks, however, the intensity of the fighting has increased, leading to fears that open war between Hezbollah and the Israeli army is imminent.

After Hezbollah’s retaliation: Who won this battle? – ANALYSIS

Israel has occupied parts of Lebanon for decades and only left the country in 2000 after fierce Lebanese resistance led by Hezbollah.

Israel attempted to reoccupy Lebanon in 2006 but failed. Lebanon considers this a major victory against Israel.

However, Israel continues to occupy parts of Lebanon, particularly the Sheeba Farms region.

Hezbollah has vowed to retake every inch of Lebanon occupied by Israel in violation of international law.

(Anadolu, PC)

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