Israeli warplanes carried out a precise strike on the Syrian border, targeting an embassy building in Damascus and killing senior Iranian military commanders. However, a few hours later, the same Israeli military conducted a botched operation in Gaza, resulting in the accidental deaths of 7 foreign aid workers. The discrepancies between these two operations have raised questions about how the Israeli military enforces its rules of engagement, especially in its conflict with Hamas.
Israeli officials attribute the strike on the aid convoy to the complexities of war, including a mix of combatants and civilians in the battlefield, reduced visibility due to nighttime, and a moving target that required quick decision-making. In contrast, the Damascus raid was a meticulously planned operation against a stationary target, likely approved at the highest levels of the Israeli military and government. Details from Iran’s own Revolutionary Guards Corps suggest that Israel had up-to-date intelligence leading to the strike in Damascus.
Experts in Israel and the United States have questioned the Israeli military’s explanations for the accidental killing of the aid workers in Gaza. Some argue that the shoot-first style of engagement used by Israeli troops in their campaign against Hamas led to this tragic incident. The Israeli military has been committed to targeting Hamas fighters, which sometimes puts civilians, like those in aid convoys, at risk.
The Israeli military struck the World Central Kitchen convoy after it had delivered supplies, resulting in the destruction of two vehicles and death of aid workers. The Israeli military chief of staff attributed the mistake to a misidentification in complex conditions. The incident in Gaza has garnered global backlash against Israel, adding to the country’s increasing isolation on the international stage.
Previous accidents involving Israeli soldiers hitting civilians, like the mistaken killing of three Israeli hostages and two technicians in a convoy, have increased pressure on Israel amid the escalating death toll in Gaza. Critics argue that Israel should tighten its rules of engagement and improve target identification to prevent such errors. However, Israeli experts believe that the complexities of Gaza’s battlefield make such mistakes unavoidable, especially in the midst of ongoing conflict.
While the Damascus raid showcased Israel’s ability to execute a precise military operation, the Gaza incident highlighted the challenges and risks involved in fighting in a densely populated area. The deadly strikes on the aid convoy were seen as a result of attrition and the dynamic nature of a long-standing conflict. Israeli officials have vowed to investigate the incidents and draw lessons to prevent similar errors in the future, as they navigate the complexities of enforcing rules of engagement in their ongoing conflict with Hamas.
