Posted on 11/29/2024 7:20:19 AM PST by Freeleesy
Analysis: Amid widespread accusations of targeting civilians, IDF employs rigorous strategies to minimize harm, including advanced warnings, precision strikes and humanitarian aid, highlighting commitment to protecting innocent lives in war zones.
It is often reported in mainstream and state-controlled media, as well as in international forums, that Israel deliberately targets civilians and might even be committing genocide against the population of Gaza. These accusations are not only baseless but are also easily debunked by the following data, numbers and facts from the War in Israel database, an IDSF project.
Before launching any strikes on cities, refugee camps or other territories, the IDF takes extensive measures to warn civilians in the Gaza Strip. These measures include distributing evacuation maps, dropping leaflets, sending SMS messages, making automated calls and even conducting live phone calls.
Since the war began, the IDF has dropped over 9.3 million pamphlets, sent over 1.55 million SMS messages, made more than 17 million automated calls and conducted over 100,000 live phone calls—all aimed at ensuring that non-combatants can move to safety.
The primary responsibility for evacuating civilians from combat zones lies with Hamas, the governing body in the Gaza Strip. However, Hamas often neglects this duty and even forces civilians to remain in harm's way, which may itself constitute a war crime.
Israel critics have claimed that Israel is deliberately starving (sic) Palestinians in Gaza by imposing strict blockades that severely restrict the flow of food, medicine and other essential supplies. They argue that these measures exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leading to widespread suffering and malnutrition among the civilian population in Gaza. The truth is the exact opposite.
IDF leaflets scattered over Rafah advising civilians to evacuate to safe zones. Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit).
The IDF works closely with NGOs and international governments to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Since the onset of the war, Israel and its partners have transported over 900,000 metric tons of supplies by land, air and sea. This includes 727,000 metric tons of food, 73,000 metric tons of shelter equipment, 49,000 metric tons of water, 25,000 metric tons of medical supplies and an additional 36,000 metric tons of other essentials.
For example, the IDF has provided Al Shifa Hospital with medical equipment, incubators and baby food, and in February, delivered over 20 oxygen tanks and additional medical supplies to Al Amal Hospital in Khan Younis.
Targeted strikes.
The Israeli Air Force was a pioneer in integrating computers into bombers, drastically improving the precision of airstrikes. By the 1990s, these computers became small enough to be installed directly into bombs, leading to the development of precision-guided munitions (PGMs).
The IDF has increasingly adopted this technology, particularly since the mid-1990s, to minimize collateral damage. For instance, during the First Gulf War in 1991, the U.S. used smart weapons in just 8% of strikes, but by later conflicts like 2008's Operation Cast Lead, nearly 100% of the munitions used were smart bombs.
In the current war, Israel has not only employed smart bombs to target terrorists embedded within civilian populations—a Hamas war crime in itself—but has also integrated new technologies to enhance the accuracy of ground troops and artillery.
The Iron Sting precision mortar munition in action. (Photo: Defense Ministry).
One such innovation is the Dagger sight by Smart Shooter, which uses computer vision and artificial intelligence to ensure that every shot is precise, effectively turning each soldier into a sniper and significantly reducing the risk of hitting unintended targets.
Another game-changing technology is the Iron Sting mortar, developed by Elbit. Unlike conventional mortars, which are generally imprecise, the Iron Sting is accurate to within meters. It relies on inputted coordinates rather than electro-optical imaging, significantly reducing collateral damage and the likelihood of civilian casualties.
Throughout the war, there were several well-known instances where Israel targeted terrorists in schools, with international media echoing Hamas propaganda by claiming that Israel killed many civilians during these strikes. For example, on August 10, Israel targeted terrorists at Tabeen School. The Guardian reported: “At least 80 people have been killed in Israeli missile strikes on a school compound in Gaza City, according to the territory’s civil defense service.” In reality, the IDF targeted 20 terrorists, causing minimal damage to the school, and provided evidence demonstrating that the inflated number of casualties was highly unlikely. The IDF even posted the names and photos of those killed in the attack. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists eliminated in IDF strike on central Gaza City's Tabeen school complex .
Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists eliminated in IDF strike on central Gaza City's Tabeen school complex. (Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit).
Before and after shot of Hamas commander center in Tabeen school complex Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit) The Tabeen School strike is just one example of numerous propaganda attempts by Hamas and their allies to tarnish Israel’s image and further their strategy of maximizing civilian casualties to pressure Israel on the world stage.
A comparative perspective.
These practices have enabled the IDF to achieve remarkable success on the battlefield while minimizing civilian casualties. The IDF reports that it has eliminated over 14,300 terrorists. Even if we accept the inflated figures from the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which are based on numbers provided by Hamas, the civilian death toll would be around 24,000. This results in a ratio of approximately 1.5 civilians killed for every one combatant. In comparison, the Soviet-Afghan War had a ratio of 10 to 1, and the Biafran War had a ratio of 15 to 1. When we consider the total civilian death toll, which stands at around 26,000 (including Israeli civilians), this conflict is far less deadly for civilians than other recent wars. For example, the war in Yemen has resulted in over 367,000 civilian deaths, the Syrian Civil War has claimed over 617,000 lives and the Liberian Civil War left more than 200,000 civilians dead.
The IDF's efforts to avoid civilian casualties stand in stark contrast to these conflicts, demonstrating a commitment to minimizing harm even in the midst of intense warfare.
To get additional data and numbers, debunk myths, read analysis and watch informative content on the wars Israel is fighting, visit warinisrael.org .
Sort of like ham-ass did on 10/7/2023. Oh, wait...........
The death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000, local health officials said Thursday.
The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children.
Plus the Gaza “MoH” is under Hamas...
Unless one defines "genocide" as growth in a population. Then all rhetorical bets are off.
Great graph. Source? Site?
Remember, theses were the people (Muslims) that were laughing and cheering as the Twin Towers fell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04_qfj8921I&ab_channel=StandWithUs
Sorry for the Palestinians? Sorry, NOT sorry.
It also appeared in the Israeli press in English language articles.
All graphics in FR seem easily sourced by a right click and "Copy image address" in order to see a source. Paste the copy into either a new page of a browser or a note pad, and Voilà.
Best wishes.
Are the Israelis going thru the Gaza strip street by street with tank mounted flamethrowers turning everything into charred ruble & wreckage!
FR Allahu Akhbar Chorus Propagandists deeply saddened.
The above quote reminds me of the Geneva Conventions, which attempt rational, moral threads to grasp during wars’ barbarity. For my Navy experience pulverizing a major enemy base in Vietnam, I especially liked the clear and obvious reading of Articles 28 and 29 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The VC were clearly responsible for any civilian deaths on the base. Those civilians qualified as Protected Persons within the enemy’s physical control and could not be used to render certain points and areas immune from military operations.
The passages furnished the basis for rules of engagement our ship and others followed when attacking a legitimate military target. Fifty years later I would expect them to use advances in technology to more accurately hit the enemy than we were able to.
Distance provided me the blessing of avoiding the clean up afterwards for the mess I helped create. However, I am certain our task force was effective in permanently shattering the only VC main force unit in the Delta.
I have always been regarded as a lunatic, drug-addicted, baby killing, fascist pig for serving in Vietnam, even though it may not be popular to say so openly now. The IDF has joined my world as defined by popular media sources. And I am sure we can trust the Gaza Health Ministry for an accurate tally. Right?
“Gaza Health Ministry for an accurate”...
__
Of course..
Islamic Fascist Republic in Tehran let their Gaza Regime Hamas dogs out..O Oct 7.
Knowing full well Palestine regime will be using its civilians to gain sympathy
Then , the same Iran joining al Jazeera’s boss and host of Hamas, the “mderate” Qatar pay broke Soith Africa to be its (SLAVES) emissaries on the ICC to promote the pallyweid libel...
Cheers. Merci.
Has Israel prosecuted any IDF members for war crimes? There are monsters on both sides of this conflict. They use children to gain sympathy. If the IDF is trying to minimize civilian casualties they are not doing a very good job. In the end Gaza or a large part of it will be depopulated and annexed.
I like saying these people are regarded as no more than biodegradable sandbags,
It would be a lot more honest to look at this conflict within its broader context.
1987 - 2021, showing Palestinian vs Israeli deaths - overwhelmingly on the Palestinian side.
https://www.vox.com/2014/7/14/5898581/chart-israel-palestine-conflict-deaths
(September 2000 to July 2014)
excerpt:
You’ll notice right away that the overwhelming majority of the deaths are Palestinian, and have been for the almost 14 years since B’Tselem began tracking. Overall, the group has recorded 8,166 conflict-related deaths, of which 7,065 are Palestinian and 1,101 Israeli. That means 87 percent of deaths have been Palestinian and only 13 percent Israeli. Put another way, for every 15 people killed in the conflict, 13 are Palestinian and two are Israeli. (Statistics for the past two months are from United Nations Office for the Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs.)
"the disparity has widened over time"
That number is even more staggering when you consider that there are about twice as many Israelis as there are Palestinians. This means, very roughly, that a Palestinian person has been 15 times more likely to be killed by the conflict than an Israeli person. Of course the conflict impacts Palestinians and Israelis far beyond just conflict deaths, but these statistics help show how utterly disproportionate the conflict has become in its toll.
The current conflict seems to reaffirm Israel's brutal efficiency when it comes to killing Palestinians, especially women and children. The only source we ultimately have for this is the Gaza Health Ministry, which would appear at first to be biased. But since Israel won't let any foreign reporters in to cover the war, it's all we have.
All anyone needs to do is visit YouTube and watch videos made by doctors and other healthcare workers who have put time in at the hospitals taking care of civilian casualties.
What's going on over there is complete extermination and erasure.
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