In December 2024, inquiries were made regarding two Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) airstrikes in Gaza that resulted in the deaths of Hamas commanders Ibrahim Biari and Wisam Farhat. Reports surrounding these operations alleged significant civilian casualties, prompting calls for transparency about the decision-making process behind the strikes.
The IDF explained that targeting approvals do not rely on fixed casualty ratios but rather on commanders’ assessments of proportionality for each operation. However, detailed information about these specific strikes remained limited despite multiple requests. Attempts to obtain further clarification from military officials met with refusals or delays, and nearly two years after the events, detailed responses have yet to be provided.
Renewed international attention has emerged following the release of the documentary NAZA, directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, which presented anonymous accounts about anticipated civilian casualties prior to Israeli airstrikes. The IDF disputed the veracity of these accounts, emphasizing that approval processes for targeting involve human judgment and strict oversight.
Instances highlighting the IDF’s efforts to minimize civilian harm have also been documented. In November 2023, a Palestinian dentist, Mahmoud Shaheen, reported maintaining contact with Israeli intelligence officers for hours while evacuating residents from Gaza’s al-Zahra neighborhood. According to Shaheen, authorities even allowed additional evacuation time and communicated through neighbors when his phone battery was low. While independent verification of these calls has not been possible, such accounts suggest some coordination aimed at reducing civilian harm.
During September 2024, Israel and Hamas agreed on humanitarian pauses in hostilities, facilitating the vaccination of nearly 560,000 children against polio. The World Health Organization (WHO) monitored daily nine-hour pauses in designated zones, allowing Palestinian medical teams and international partners to carry out the immunizations.
Nonetheless, the challenge of balancing military operations with civilian protection remains contentious. The IDF has publicly acknowledged mistakes, such as in April 2024 when seven World Central Kitchen aid workers were killed during a strike. Subsequent investigations found serious procedural breaches, leading to disciplinary measures against officers. Aid organizations have called for independent probes and ongoing scrutiny to prevent future incidents.
Comparisons have been drawn to similar incidents involving other militaries. For example, a 2021 U.S. drone strike in Kabul killing 10 civilians prompted Pentagon reviews that identified failures in communication but did not result in disciplinary action. Likewise, a 2015 U.S. attack on a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan, which caused 42 deaths, led to administrative punishments without courts-martial.
In the Netherlands, revelations about a 2015 airstrike on an ISIS facility in Iraq, which reportedly caused around 70 civilian deaths, came to light only four years later after journalistic investigations exposed governmental delays in disclosure.
Calls for greater transparency in Israel’s conduct have intensified. Advocates urge the IDF to release comprehensive assessments of civilian versus combatant casualties and publish completed investigations into disputed strikes, such as those involving Biari and Farhat. It has been suggested that sensitive intelligence can be redacted to protect operational security while still providing meaningful accountability.
The potential diplomatic consequences of failing to address these concerns have also been noted, including the risk that international partners might reconsider military support if allegations of unaddressed civilian harm persist.
Military officials are thus encouraged to clarify what information can be disclosed, outline reasons for any continued delays, and ensure that victims’ families and the public receive thorough explanations. Such measures could reinforce confidence in the IDF’s adherence to humanitarian principles amidst ongoing conflict.