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The New York Times: Israeli officials assert that civilian casualties are an unavoidable aspect of defeating Hamas, drawing parallels with civilian casualties in historic Western military clashes, such as the bombing of Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen or Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They argue such outcomes are understood by nations like the U.S. Israel contends it strives to minimize civilian harm while facing challenges like Hamas embedding within civilian populations. Despite measures to limit casualties, including warnings to civilians, high civilian tolls, including in recent heavy bombings in Gaza’s Jabaliya, have raised war crime allegations from human rights observers and triggered diplomatic repercussions like Jordan withdrawing its ambassador.
U.S. officials maintain public support for Israel, avoiding war crime assertions, while internally acknowledging the complexity of urban warfare, as evidenced by historical precedents like Falluja and Mosul, where civilian shields and booby traps complicated operations. Nonetheless, Israel’s recent campaign has prompted concerns over the proportionality and legality of their tactics and the use of U.S. weapons, with calls for accountability growing in international circles. Former officials cite differences in U.S. efforts to avoid civilian casualties in past conflicts compared to the current situation in Gaza, fueling debate over the moral and legal implications of such military strategies.
The entire article can be read at the link https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/07/us/politics/israel-gaza-war-death-toll-civilians.html
