Ep. 03
In this gripping episode, hosts Adam Hakan and Amy Septerfield explore a comprehensive investigation into the controversial activities of Israel’s 749 Combat Engineering Battalion in Gaza from October 2023 to September 2024. Based on firsthand social media posts and videos shared by the soldiers themselves, the article provides an unprecedented inside look at the battalion’s military operations and the ramifications for civilian life in the region.
Adam and Amy delve into the battalion’s primary mission, which appears to involve widespread demolition of civilian infrastructure, including homes, universities, and entire neighborhoods. They discuss specific operations highlighted in the report, such as the destruction of Al-Azhar University’s campus and the creation of the Netzarim corridor, a four-mile wide strip dividing north and south Gaza. With the demolition of over 56 buildings in the Shuja’iya neighborhood and operations in the Bureij Refugee Camp and Rafah, the hosts unpack the scope and scale of these military actions.
The episode takes a critical look at the soldiers’ social media posts, which often celebrate the destruction using inflammatory language and biblical references. Adam and Amy examine the cavalier attitude exhibited by some soldiers, who explicitly state their intention to “flatten Gaza” and erase its future. They raise important questions about the potential for war crimes and the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, reflecting on the serious implications of these findings.
Additionally, the episode addresses the Israeli military’s response to these allegations, asserting that their operations comply with international law and that exceptional incidents are investigated. Join Adam and Amy as they navigate this complex and sensitive topic, shedding light on the intersection of military objectives and humanitarian consequences in the ongoing conflict. Tune in for a deep dive into the realities of war and the narratives that shape our understanding of this critical issue.