Jerusalem – The Israeli military says it will assign officers to protect civilians in combat zones during wartime.
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The move appears to be a response to international criticism of Israel for high civilian death tolls in recent wars in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon.
The military says an officer in each battalion will be responsible for planning and marking evacuation corridors for civilians in combat areas.
Lt. Col. Shuki Shine says the officer will specify where soldiers cannot shoot and will also ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Palestinians and human rights groups say more than 900 civilians died during Israel’s three-week offensive in Gaza last year. Lebanese say more than 1,100 people died during Israel’s 2006 offensive in Lebanon.
This is consistent with another story on VIN over the weekend about some rav who was arrested for writing that the IDF had not done enough to protect innocent civilians caught in the middle during the last round fighting in Gaza.
on one hand it puts officers in danger, however, high civilian death tolls creates more terrorists. In addition, it must effect morally the army or individual officers when they kill civilians and especially children.
I know people will come up will excuses why it is ok to kill a child. that is easy when you are not the one doing the killing
Admirable Move from the IDF. But why is Israel the only army around the world that’s singled out and cornered to the point where it feels it needs to do this step.
I’m just curious if the americans are doing this in response to the tens of thousands ! Of civilians killed in iraq and afghanistan by american troops. Oh but israel must show the world that hates them regardless that they are more “moral” .
Says:
If someone was shooting at your house and putting your family in danger while the shooter was holding a baby, would you let him continue to shoot and not shoot back at him? Why is his baby more important than your own children and family?
Civilians can carry grenades!!
If you’re running around claiming holier than thou with kosher food, not working on shabbos, tznius, etc then the rest of the nations in the world have a right to demand higher morals that affect them.
To # 8 Your thinking is off base and pretty flawed. First off, I assure you the IDF isn’t ‘running around claiming holier than thou with kosher food, not working on shabbos, tznius, etc.’