IDF: Limiting Harm to Civilians

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Military-Strategic Information Section // The Strategic Division

IDF: Limiting Harm to Civilians

THE MILITARY-STRATEGIC INFORMATION SECTION

Operation “Cast Lead”

January 14, 2009



Hamas targets Israeli civilians

Hamas’ modus operandi is based on launching its attacks from populated areas.

Weapons and ammunition are stored in houses, mosques, hospitals and schools.

Women and children are used as human shields.

Hamas continues to attack civilian targets during the IDF’s daily humanitarian ceasefire.

The The IDFIDF targetstargets onlyonly HamasHamas and Other and Other Terrorist Terrorist InfrastructureInfrastructure in Gaza in Gaza

The IDF targets military capabilities.

The IDF strives to avoid harm to civilians and non-military sites in the Gaza Strip.

The IDF protects Israeli civilians including with its Homefront Command

Hamas Israel

VS.



• Explosives, rockets, ammunition, and weapon arsenals are stored in private homes, mosques, schools and hospitals.

• Hamas launches attacks in close proximity to innocent civilians (in school yards, from mosques, etc.)

Rockets fired from civilian neighborhoods

According to international law: the use of civilians as shields to try to prevent attacks on military targets is prohibited.

“The presence of a protected person may not be used to render certain points or areas immune from military operations.”Fourth Geneva Convention, Article 28

Hamas Operates from within Concentrations of Civilians



A sketch by Hamas that details on the deployment of explosives and Hamas forces in the Al-Attara neighborhood in the northern Gaza Strip.

The map was found by IDF paratrooper forces operating in the northern Gaza Strip.The map shows that snipers are positioned at the entrance of the A-Tawil mosque and in the mosques next to it. It depicts the directions the snipers are aiming. It also indicates that explosives are planted in the entrances of civilian homes.



Firing from Amongst Children and Other Civilians



Women Called by Hamas to Deter an Attack



A Booby-Trapped school – Found by IDF Forces on Jan 11th

In one neighborhood of 150 homes searched by IDF forces, more than 30 were found to be mined with explosives.



Weapons factory located amongst homes in a Jabaliya neighborhood, northern Gaza

Factory with lathes used for the production of Qassam rockets, Dirj, southern Gaza

Hamas Locates Its Military Infrastructure in Civilian Neighborhoods

• Presents the IDF with a complex operational environment

• Endangers innocent Palestinian civilians



“Should civilian casualties ensue from an attempt to shield combatants or a military objective, the ultimate responsibility lies with the belligerent placing innocent civilians at risk.”

Dinstein, ‘Conduct of Hostilities under the Law of International Armed Conflict’

Terrorist organizations that hide behind civilians bear the primary responsibility

for civilian casualties



• Telephone calls are made to Palestinian civilians to warn them prior to strikes

• Warning pamphlets are distributed from the air.• Attacks are pin-pointed, frequently using precision

munitions and tactics.• “Knock on the Roof” - Israel has developed a procedure

whereby it deploys a small munition to frighten away civilians gathered in a building prior to destroying the building.

• Attacks are frequently delayed if civilians are at risk (e.g. attacks at night, among other reasons, to limit harming non-combatants).

Various Methods Used by the IDF to Diminish Civilian Casualties



Warning the Population in Advance

Radio Broadcasts

03.01.09

Local Residents,For your own safety you are asked to evacuate your residency at once and travel to central areas.

Telephone Calls27.12.08The IDF is operating against organizations and individuals that participate in terrorist activity targeting the State of Israel.

The IDF will strike and destroy every site or building in which weapons or smuggling tunnels are found.

Following this announcement, anyone located in a build containing weapons, or where there are smuggling tunnels, is there at his/her own risk and it is his/her responsibility to exit and evacuate his/her family!

You have been warned!

Statistics

Number of Leaflets Distributed:28.12.08 – 300,000 throughout Gaza Strip29.12.08 – 80,000 in Rafah03.01.09 – 300,000 throughout Gaza Strip05.01.09 – 300,000 in Gaza, Khan Yunis, Rafah

Number of Phone Calls Made:27.12.08 – 20,000 (answered) throughout the Gaza Strip29.12.08 – 10,000 (answered) in Rafah

Radio Broadcasts:27.12.08 – 30.12.0803.01.09 – 05.01.09



Pinpoint Operations and Precision Striking

The IDF uses Guided Precision Munitions (GPM) to target terrorist infrastructure and operatives and minimize collateral damage to the civilian population

Poster published by Izz a-Din el Qassam Brigades, detailing members of the organization killed in Air Force strikes

House of Hamas operative located in the midst of a densely-populated area



Distribution of Leaflets Warning the Population in Advance

Sample Leaflet Distributed in Rafah

Residents of Rafah, The IDF is operating against organizations and individuals that participate in terrorist activity targeting the State of Israel.

The IDF will strike and destroy every site or building in which weapons or smuggling tunnels are found.

Following this announcement, anyone located in a build containing weapons, or where there are smuggling tunnels, is there at his/her own risk and it is his/her responsibility to exit and evacuate his/her family!

You have been warned!IDF Command.



International Norms to Limit Collateral Damage – ExamplesInternational Norms to Limit Collateral Damage – Examples

Australian Defense Force Manual:The presence of non-combatants in or around a military objective does not change its nature as a military objective. Non-combatants in the vicinity of a military objective must share the danger to which the military objective is exposed.

Belgian Teaching Manual for Soldiers:Objects occupied or used by enemy military forces are military objectives even if these objects were civilian at the outset (houses, schools or churches occupied by the enemy).

Spain’s Law of Armed Conflict Manual:The principle of proportionality…is based on recognition of the fact that it is difficult to limit the effects of modern weapons and methods of warfare exclusively to military objectives and that it is likely that they will cause collateral damage to civilians and civilian objects.

IDF: Limiting Harm to Civilians

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