A joint investigation by European and Arab media has unveiled harrowing testimonies implicating Israeli and foreign snipers in the execution of unarmed civilians in Gaza. Among those identified is a German-Israeli soldier, Daniel G. from Munich, who admitted to serving in a sniper unit that deliberately targeted Palestinians. Eyewitness accounts, medical records, and survivor testimonies point to the killing of members of the Daghmash family in Gaza City’s Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood, where civilians were shot one after another as they tried to help the wounded.

The revelations grew even more chilling when an American recruit, Sergeant D. from Chicago, described how his unit drew a so-called “phantom line,” firing on anyone who crossed, regardless of whether they were armed. Another soldier, Daniel Rab, who grew up in Illinois and joined the so-called Ghost Brigade, openly confessed to killing 19-year-old Salem Daghmash as he tried to recover his brother’s body. “That was the first murder I carried out,” he said, noting without remorse that his unit was responsible for over a hundred deaths. Salem’s father, Montaser, was also shot when he attempted to reach his sons.

Reports further link these crimes to the Refaim unit, a multinational sniper group including Americans, Germans, and others serving under Israeli command. Despite the weight of evidence, Germany’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office closed the case earlier this year without questioning Daniel G., citing insufficient suspicion. Legal experts condemned the decision, urging accountability for war crimes “regardless of identity.” Meanwhile, pressure continues to mount in Europe, with new cases filed against soldiers accused of inciting hatred and destroying civilian homes.

For the Daghmash family, the horror was not just the loss of three loved ones but being forced to leave their bodies in the street until a temporary ceasefire allowed for burial. Their tragedy is one of many, raising urgent questions about international justice and the willingness of states to confront crimes committed in Gaza.