Israel Investigates Allegations Of Violations By Troop Commanders In Battlefield: Betting The Lives Of His Subordinates

Israeli military operations in Gaza. (Twitter/@idfonline)

JAKARTA - Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said a senior officer had been appointed to investigate repeated abuse allegations by the Parasut Brigade Commander Colonel Ami Biton.

Channel 12 news and public broadcaster Kan reported several senior reserve officers at the brigade submitted a letter to former Colonel Biton's superior, Major General Dan Goldfus, who led the 98th Division, complaining about his behavior in the middle of the war.

The letters accuse Colonel Biton of not being involved in fighting, risking the lives of his soldiers unnecessary, treating his subordinates in an embarrassing way and spending a lot of time with soldiers and female officers, quoted from The Times of Israel Dec. 19.

A reserve officer called Colonel Biton "the worst officer in the army," in a letter quoted by Kan.

In response to the report, the IDF said, "this is a claim received a few months ago and has been checked in the past, but given its repetition, it is being investigated again now."

Head of IDF Central Command Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth has appointed an unnamed Brigadier general to investigate claims made by reserve soldiers, giving him a conclusion as soon as possible, the military said.

The IDF added that Colonel Biton "last year led the Umbrella Falls Brigade throughout the war with significant achievements across all lines."

During the beginning of the war, the parents of the troops at the brigade complained that Biton would not allow soldiers to leave the Gaza Strip for short leave to meet their families for about three consecutive months.

Meanwhile, each other brigade has at least one short break during that time.