That's not a hypothetical. In New York City, the cops will fire at a fare beater, shooting innocent bystanders and even shooting one of their own cops. Just because they do it, it doesn't make it right. From two days ago:
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nypd-shooting-brooklyn-subway-stop/5797716/
"The officers, which [Chief of Department Jeffrey] Maddrey confirmed were the only ones to shoot, also struck two bystanders and one of the two cops. A female victim was grazed and a male was struck in the head. The injured officer was hit underneath his armpit, just missing the bulletproof vest, Maddrey explained."
Your scenario is not comparable because the officer spotted a known suspect. In this case, the targeters just detonated bombs they figured suspects might be holding, not caring who might be holding them and who might be nearby.
> In this case, the targeters just detonated bombs they figured suspects might be holding, not caring who might be holding them and who might be nearby. <
That argument is, I think, a little weak. It would be stronger if the Mossad had just randomly placed rigged cell phones into known terrorist areas, then hoped a bad guy would pick one up.
Instead, it looked like they knew who they were dealing with. Just as the cop in my hypothetical knew who he was dealing with.
Furthermore, I can’t see how you know the Mossad (or whomever it was) was “not caring” about who was nearby. Maybe they did care, as killing civilians is bad for Israel’s reputation if nothing else. More likely the Mossad made a judgment call, just as my hypothetical police officer must.
I am not unsympathetic to your point of view. It’s crap when innocents get killed, whether it’s in a war situation or a police shoot-out.