A video clip that went viral on Tuesday shows a group of left-wing activists confronting Israeli soldiers deployed on the Israel-Gaza border, trying – and failing – to provoke the troops.
Footage of the incident, which took place on April 6, shows a group of left-wing Israeli activists near the Gaza border fence harassing soldiers on patrol, calling them "terrorists."
"Aren't you ashamed to be part of a civilian massacre? You're a terrorist, and I'm going to film you," a left-wing activist is seen goading a female soldier on duty near the border.
One of the activists shared the video clip on his personal Facebook page. He captioned it, "A clash with terrorists [referring to the soldiers] during a demonstration of solidarity outside the Gaza ghetto on April 6, 2018. Eleven Palestinians were executed by IDF soldiers that day, including two children. May their memories be blessed."
The exchanges between the activists and the soldiers were conducted in Hebrew, but English subtitles were added to the version of the film that went viral, indicating it was intended for an international audience.
"Now the terrorist soldiers are explaining that we need to keep away from the massacre of civilians. Three pawns, terrorist soldiers," a woman's voice is heard saying as she films the interaction.
Another man, who is seen inspecting a map issued by the IDF indicating that the area in which the clip was filmed is a restricted military zone, tells the soldiers: "We're Jewish citizens, not Palestinians," in an attempt to persuade them to allow his group to remain on the scene.
The same female activist narrating the incident is heard asking the soldiers, "Are your parents happy when you come home after killing civilians? Twenty-one innocent civilians that you slaughtered in the terrorist organization you're a part of?"
One of the soldiers responds in astonishment, "I'm a terrorist?" and the agitator replies, "The school system educated you to enlist in a terrorist army at age 18 without thinking and slaughter innocent civilians in Gaza."
Soldiers who have been involved in similar exchanges with activists say that such encounters make it hard for them to do their jobs.
"Situations like these make you think twice before pulling the trigger. It lowers the fighting morale. Soldiers are afraid to respond appropriately in situations because they know that they are always being filmed and there are people who want to 'catch' them and put them on trial," one soldier said.
