By Violeta Santos-Moura

Over the last few years, a group of Israeli combat veterans have begun to speak out about their experiences working in the occupied Palestinian territories and challenging Israel’s military occupation. According to former 1st Sergeant Avihai Stollar, Breaking the Silence is trying to show how long-lasting martial rule over a civilian population is “morally wrong and stands at the heart of the conflict.”

Stollar, speaking on behalf of the group, says that the fundamental problem is the assertion — claimed by Israel’s political establishment—that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories is a security necessity. They also say that, unlike what they believed as 18-year-olds during their compulsory army service, the mission they were sent on was not to “ensure Israelis’ safety.” It was also not “to fight a foreign army.” Instead, they were sent by consecutive Israeli governments to “perpetuate control over the Palestinians’ territories and its civilian population.” The international community considers this illegal.

The group’s overall political aim is clear: to help end the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. To achieve this, they have spent more than 10 years collecting hundreds of testimonies of soldiers who have served in the occupied Palestinian territories.

This series exposes the former soldiers’ personal lives, their political selves and their stories by shedding a light on who these young men and women are, what they did and their place within Israel’s society.