Israel Faces Scrutiny Over Gaza Operations at US War Conference

The annual Maneuver Warfighter Conference 2026, held last week at Fort Benning, USA, and organized by the US Army, focused on ground warfare, troop training, and modern battlefield approaches. The event drew senior US military leaders, international allies, cybersecurity experts, and defense contractors.

Discussions centered on lessons learned from recent conflicts and adapting armies to evolving combat conditions. Key participants included US Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Christopher LaNive and Gen. Ronald Clark, commander of US Army Pacific. Integration of new technologies like AI, drones, robotics, electronic warfare, and advanced communications was a major theme, alongside continuous innovation and army modernization strategies.

The Israeli delegation presented the IDF's tactics used in ground operations in Gaza and Lebanon. Senior IDF officers detailed the Gaza ground operation, including pre-operation measures like civilian evacuation and extensive airstrikes. Colonel Yaron Simsolo, head of the IDF's Infantry Doctrine Department, and Lt. Col. Ariel Erlich briefed attendees on these operations.

According to Kan, conference participants posed numerous questions to the Israeli officers, including inquiries related to the documentary "Nasa" shown at the Venice Film Festival and the high number of casualties in Gaza. While foreign officers reportedly understood the necessity of the Gaza operation following the October 7th attacks, some disagreed with Israel regarding the scale of Palestinian civilian losses. The Israeli side asserted that the IDF took unprecedented measures to minimize civilian casualties.