Israeli soldiers ‘psychologically broken’ over Gaza war

Israeli soldiers have been left “psychologically broken” because of the ongoing war in Gaza, a United Nations expert has said.

Francesca Albanese, the UN Human Rights Council’s special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories told Sky News that “many” Israeli soldiers had been left “haunted by what they have see, what they have done”. 

“It doesn’t make sense,” Ms Albanese said. “This is not a war, this is an assault against civilians and this is producing a fracture in many of them.

“As that soldier’s testimony reveals, especially the youngest among the soldiers have been convinced this is a form of patriotism, of defending Israel and Israeli society against this opaque but very hard felt enemy, which is Hamas.

“But the thing is that they’ve come to confront the reality among the rubble of Gaza.”

Five Israeli soldiers were killed in a roadside bomb attack in Gaza overnight after a second round of ceasefire negotiations in Qatar.

An Israeli security official said two explosive devices were detonated against soldiers during an operation in the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza, killing five soldiers and injuring 14 more.

It came as officials from Israel and Hamas continued with another round of indirect talks in Doha, which started on Sunday and have since provided no breakthrough.

Far right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich called for an end to the peace talks in response to the attack on Israeli troops.

“We should not negotiate with those who kill our soldiers. They should be crushed to pieces, starved to death, and not resuscitated with humanitarian aid that gives them oxygen,” Ben-Gvir said.

Mr Netanyahu last night joined Donald Trump at the White House and revealed that he had nominated the US president for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Today he is expected to meet JD Vance, the vice president, and the leaders of Congress in Washington.

Both Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu expressed hope that a ceasefire deal could be reached this week.

An Israeli minister said on Tuesday there was a “substantial chance” that a ceasefire could be agreed as talks continued in Doha.

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