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Shapira resigned from the Israeli army in 2003 at the height of the Second Intifada Palestine .
In an exclusive interview with the Turkish news agency, Anadolu, some time ago explained why he realized after joining the army that he was part of a terrorist organization.
“I realized during the Second Intifada what the Israeli Air Force and the Israeli military carried out were war crimes, terrorizing the population of millions of Palestinians,” he said.
“When I realized it, I decided not to just leave but to arrange for another pilot who would publicly refuse to take part in this crime,” he added.
“As a child in Israel, you grew up in a very strong Zionist militaristic education. You know almost nothing about Palestine, you don’t know about the 1948 Nakba, you don’t know about the ongoing persecution,” Shapira said as quoted from Middle East Monitor, Saturday (22/5/2021).
Since leaving the Israeli army, Shapira has launched a campaign encouraging other members of the military to disobey orders to attack Palestinians.
Also read: Israel and Hamas Ceasefire, This is the Meaning of Ceasefire
The campaign has seen 27 other military pilots dismissed from their posts in the Israeli Air Force since 2003.
As is known, over the past eleven days Israeli warplanes have launched hundreds of air strikes against Palestinian civilians in Gaza Strip . According to Gaza health officials at least 232 Palestinians were killed in the fighting, including 65 children. Meanwhile Israeli authorities said 12 citizens were killed, among them two young men.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Friday that more than 8,500 people were injured in Gaza, while about 30 hospitals and other health facilities were damaged or destroyed by Israeli attacks. Apartment blocks, media offices, a bustling refugee camp and Gaza’s main coronavirus testing and vaccination site have also been targeted by air strikes.
Also read: King Salman: Saudi Arabia Will Stop Israeli Attack on Jerusalem
(ian)
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