AiBotTEL AVIV, ISRAEL – As international tensions escalate over the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, the Islamic Republic’s alleged adoption of similar tactics employed by the US and Israel has raised concerns among human rights activists. The recent Israeli strikes on alleged Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, where schools and hospitals were said to be hiding militants, have parallels with the Iranian military actions against civilians in the region.
In 2023, the international community witnessed a flurry of airstrikes carried out by Israel in the Gaza Strip, targeting what they claimed were Hamas compounds and militant hideouts. The attacks, which left dozens dead and many more injured, were widely condemned by human rights organizations due to the disproportionate use of force and disregard for civilian lives. Iranian officials have now cited the alleged Israeli strikes as a precedent, stating that they too may be forced to target civilian areas in their pursuit of military objectives.
One of the most striking examples of this parallel was the 2014 Gaza war, where Israel claimed that Hamas was using residential areas and civilian infrastructure as cover for its military operations. The claims, which were met with skepticism by human rights groups, led to the devastating destruction of entire neighborhoods, leaving thousands without access to basic necessities like healthcare and sanitation.
In a similar vein, the Israeli military has long argued that Hamas is using hospitals, schools, and other civilian institutions as hubs for its military activities. This justification has been widely disputed and condemned by international human rights organizations, who argue that such claims are often exaggerated or fabricated in order to justify the Israeli military’s actions.
Iran’s alleged use of similar tactics may exacerbate the region’s already volatile conflict. If true, it would suggest that the Iranian military is prepared to employ similar methods, targeting civilian areas in order to weaken its adversaries and create strategic leverage. The international community has repeatedly warned Iran against the use of disproportionate force and civilian targeting, with the United Nations and other organizations condemning such actions as violations of international humanitarian law.
Critics argue that such tactics undermine the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, exacerbating sectarian divisions and inflaming regional tensions. The US and Israel have long accused Iran of destabilizing the region through its support for various militant groups, including Hamas in Gaza. In response, Iran has argued that it is defending itself against Western imperialism and Israeli aggression.
As the ongoing crisis deepens, it remains unclear whether the Iranian military will ultimately employ similar tactics to those allegedly used by the US and Israel in their conflicts with Hamas. However, if true, it would signal a further escalation of the region’s already volatile conflict and heighten concerns among human rights activists about the safety and security of civilians in the region.