Israeli troops accused of using animals used as target practice

Israeli soldiers are using wild animals, including protected species, for target practice, says the Israeli Nature Reserves Authority according to a soldiers' weekly magazine.

The nature watchdogs have complained to the Army about soldiers using their military-issue weapons for hunting, as well as shooting at wild animals for sport and practice, the weekly Bamahane says.

The magazine quoted nature reserve officials as saying that the captain of an Israeli missile boat was seen shooting birds out of the sky off the coast of the Gaza Strip six months ago.

The authorities received dozens of complaints each year about soldiers shooting animals, the article said, but few soldiers were disciplined.