Iranian West Asia Expert Dr. Mohammad Shahedi: 'There Are No Civilians In Israel — It Is A Military-Oriented Colonial Regime, In Which Everyone Has To Serve In The Army'

Iranian West Asia Expert Dr. Mohammad Shahedi responded on an October 9, 2023, show that aired on Channel 1 (Iran) to claims that Hamas attacks Israeli women, children, and the elderly, by saying that there are no civilians in Israel. He explained that Israel is a "military-oriented colonial regime," in which everyone has to serve in the military until they are 50 years old.

Dr. Mohammad Shahedi: "Some people claim that [Hamas] attacks women, children, and the elderly. We have seen a video today, in which [Gazans] said that they are Muslims and believe in Islam, they believe in Islamic doctrines and rules, and abide by the rules of the Prophet of Islam, and they would never rape or attack children, the handicapped, and women, and that they would never inflict harm on them, unless they are part of the military. The next issue is whether there are civilians in Israel at all. Sometimes, they suggest that the Palestinians attack Israeli civilians.

"As a rule, there are no Israeli civilians on that land. They are all part of the military. Those [Israelis] in Palestine, male or female, must serve in the military from the age of 18, for two or three years. After that, they have to serve in the reserves until the age of 50, meaning they have to serve in their own unit one month every year. Basically, this is a military-oriented colonial regime. So basically, they are not civilians. They are all part of the military."