More than 40 former soldiers and current army reservists have signed a letter refusing future service in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) military intelligence wing, known as Unit 8200.
Unit 8200 is often compared to the United States National Security Agency. It uses sophisticated technology to monitor the lives of Palestinians, gathering information which is then used by Israel's military. It also carries out surveillance overseas.
But the group of soldiers who served in the unit has spoken out about the methods used and the toll they take on innocent civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories.
In witness testimonies, they detail the strategies used by Israel's elite intelligence corps.
I'm going to have to deal with the fact that people are going to wish for my death, that they're going to call me a traitor.
One of the signatories to the letter
These include gathering personal information about a person's sexual preference and using it to blackmail the individual into becoming a collaborator – a Palestinian who hands information to Israeli authorities.
"Any information that might enable extortion of an individual is considered relevant information," one soldier's statement said.
"Whether said individual is of a certain sexual orientation, cheating on his wife, or in need of treatment in Israel or the West Bank – he is a target for blackmail."
The veterans believe the surveillance and intelligence gathering by Unit 8200 is not necessary for Israeli national security.
"The notion of rights for Palestinians does not exist at all, not even as an idea to be disregarded," one witness statement said.
"Any Palestinian may be targeted and may suffer from sanctions, such as the denial of permits, harassment, extortion, or even direct physical injury."
In response to the letter, the IDF said in a statement to the ABC: "The Intelligence Corps has no record that the specific violations in the letter ever took place."
It said the unit's mission was to protect Israeli civilians.
"Those who serve in the unit undergo a thorough screening process and intense training, which is unmatched by any of the world's intelligence agencies," the statement said.
"Throughout the training, a special emphasis is placed on morality, ethics, and proper procedure. Soldiers and officers in the unit act in accordance with their training and remain under the strict supervision of high-ranking officers."