BICOM

First of all, we should be clear; the IDF never deliberately targets civilians. In fact, every non combatant casualty is not only a tragedy, but also tactically counterproductive, as it has the potential to restrict Israeli action and prevent it from reaching its goals. Hamas famously operates on the inverse principle, absorbing casualties at home to strengthen its ‘resistance’ campaign whilst deliberately targeting Israeli civilians.

The group has fired over 2,800 rockets (as of time of writing) during the current campaign indiscriminately into Israeli communities. It is also worth reminding oneself of the Hamas charter; every Jew is an enemy.

From an ethical perspective, the IDF, as a conscript army, made up of Israel’s sons and daughters, would not and could not countenance orders that did not aim to minimise these fatalities as much as possible. The sanctity of ‘human life’ is enshrined in the values of the IDF. Other principles, such as ‘purity of arms’, acknowledges the responsibility, when in charge of lethal weapons, of ensuring they are only discharged according to strict rules of engagement.

I know from my own experience serving inside Gaza that when confronted with a gunman shooting at us in a building opposite, we would only return fire when we could see the shooter itself. We were not permitted to shoot at the window from where he appeared as we did not know who else was in the room.

From a political perspective, Israel is acutely aware that it operates within the framework of international law. In a region where thousands of people are dying in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere, Israel measures itself to a higher standard that her neighbours, and rightly so. The Jewish State should be judged in comparison to the conduct of other Western states and/or NATO operations. However it is worth remembering a significant difference; the proximity of the theatre of war and the concurrent threat to the home front.

Read the article in full at the International Business Times.