On Oct. 7, 2023, Israel's military authorized mid-ranking officers unprecedented freedom to conduct intense bombing campaigns targeting not just top militants but also low-ranking fighters, significantly increasing civilian risk.
Previously, Israel's military operations focused on avoiding civilian casualties, with officers authorized to risk only a small number of civilian fatalities. The new directive allows for a higher toll.
The rationale behind the new rules of engagement was the perceived existential threat to Israel, prompting a change that allows targeting militants in civilian spaces without prior approval.
This order marked a historical shift in Israeli combat strategy, where the military could hit targets with much lower military significance, raising ethical concerns about the resulting civilian casualties.
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