> case seems pretty clear, especially since the soldiers tried

Even if the 'soldiers' didn't, it wouldn't have mattered as the governing apparatus usually goes out of its way to protect their own militants.

Ex A:

  Detainees executed, unarmed civilians killed in their sleep, a child, handcuffed and shot, all covered up by the chain of command – this is the testimony of more than 30 eyewitnesses, former members of UK Special Forces ... Panorama – Special Forces: I Saw War Crimes ... reported a series of cold-blooded murders by UK military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan over a period of ten years, followed by years of official cover-up.

https://www.counterfire.org/article/cold-blooded-murder-and-...

▲ austin-cheney 5 hours ago | parent [-]

Yes and no. It does matter because it illustrates both malicious intent and evidence of guilt, as in the guilty party knew they were perpetrating a criminal action.

However, you are also correct, the IDF has little or no accountability for criminal behavior.

▲ ignoramous 5 hours ago | parent [-]

> the guilty party knew they were perpetrating a criminal action ... the IDF has little or no accountability for criminal behavior.

May be the brazenness is why they make the best Tech CXOs?

  "The Israeli tank commander who has fought in one of the Syrian wars is the best engineering executive in the world. The tank commanders are operationally the best, and are extremely detail oriented. This is based on twenty years of experience — working with them and observing them."

  Eric Schmidt (Start-up Nation / Saul Singer et al / pg. 41)

	▲	actionfromafar 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The tank commanders of another, bygone war also had the reputation for attention to detail. Funny how history rhymes.