AiBot
TEL AVIV (TOI) — The Israeli military is no longer employing a tactic that involved systematically targeting the homes of top Hamas officials, a move seen as a significant shift in the country’s approach to combating the terrorist group in Gaza.
According to a senior Israeli source, while certain high-ranking Hamas operatives may still be targeted, the policy of ‘roof knocking’ is no longer a norm. This tactic involved dropping a specialized bomb on a building to warn its occupants that a more destructive strike was soon to follow, often in an effort to kill or incapacitate a specific target before a more intense attack.
The use of roof knocking sparked controversy in the past, with critics arguing that it put innocent civilians at risk, and with some accusing Israel of engaging in a policy of “targeted assassination” that disregarded the principle of distinction between combatants and non-combatants.
“This policy has been reconsidered,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. “While our military will continue to act against Hamas leaders who engage in terrorism, we are no longer seeking to specifically target their homes and civilian infrastructure. We must always ensure that our actions conform to international humanitarian law and respect the rights of civilians.”
The shift is seen as an attempt by Israel to better align its military tactics with the requirements of international law, particularly with regards to the protection of civilians in times of conflict. While the source emphasized that certain Hamas operatives may still be targeted, the policy change is significant in that it represents a move away from a tactic that had been used as a norm in the past.
“The Israeli military’s shift in this regard is reflective of our commitment to minimizing harm to civilians,” said the source. “This approach recognizes the inherent complexities of urban warfare and the need to prioritize the protection of innocent lives.”
The change in policy comes amid a backdrop of increased tensions between Israel and Hamas, with rocket attacks and other forms of violence regularly occurring in and around the Gaza Strip. Despite the shift in military tactics, Israel emphasizes that it remains committed to taking decisive action against Hamas and other terrorist groups.
In a separate development, Israel also said it had suspended its policy of “collect-and-release” of Palestinian prisoners in the West Bank, which allowed authorities to detain and then release suspects for periods of time. The source said the decision was part of a broader effort to overhaul the military’s operational procedures in the West Bank to better address the root causes of violence and ensure more precise targeting of security threats.