Barbeques, suspicion and song as Israeli soldiers break from Gaza war

Ashkelon, Israel – A middle-aged Israeli soldier with a thick, immaculately groomed moustache sits outside a bustling pizzeria located on the periphery of Ashkelon.

The southern Israeli city is best characterised by its trademark monolithic beige residential towers that overlook a scenic waterfront with a fancy marina frequented by sun-seeking tourists during peacetime.

The soldier’s steely gaze oscillates between an elderly couple sitting with him at a small outdoor table and each new…