IDF Rejects 'Collateral Damage' Film as Distorted and Unrealistic

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has issued a strong rebuttal to a film titled 'Collateral Damage,' released three weeks ago, asserting that it presents a distorted, misleading, and unrealistic portrayal of IDF targeting processes. The military claims the film is based on significant factual errors stemming from a manipulative presentation of events.

Specifically, the IDF refutes several key claims made in the film. It emphasizes that IDF directives clearly distinguish between combatants and civilians in Gaza, and that targeting processes strictly adhere to this distinction, prohibiting attacks on civilians and mandating efforts to minimize harm to them. The IDF denies ever planning, approving, or executing an attack in Gaza where the expected death of 500 civilians or a similar number was anticipated, nor has such a claim been seriously made against the IDF.

The military also clarified that artificial intelligence has never independently selected targets in the IDF. Target identification is solely performed by qualified intelligence officers, with planning by relevant professionals, and final attack decisions made by operational commanders. The IDF stated that directives do not allow for automatic approval of attacks based on a predetermined number of expected civilian casualties, nor is 'Lavender,' a database mentioned in the film, a list of approved targets but rather an intelligence aid. Furthermore, evacuation warnings do not permit attacks that disregard remaining civilians, and the IDF actively investigates the results of its strikes, including unintentional civilian harm, to learn lessons.

The IDF suggested that the filmmakers failed to conduct adequate fact-checking and source verification, leading to the errors. It noted that interviewees, presented as former intelligence personnel, often focused only on initial intelligence phases, not the broader planning and approval process handled by operational bodies. The IDF also criticized the film for omitting crucial context, such as the security reasons for operations, Hamas's deliberate embedding within the civilian population, and the IDF's extensive efforts to minimize civilian casualties, including pre-attack warnings, munition selection, and humanitarian aid support.

The military concluded that the film's narrative is achieved through manipulative editing, false attributions of malicious intent, and a misrepresentation of professional terminology like 'collateral damage.' The IDF maintains it operates humanely and in accordance with international humanitarian law, investigating all suspected violations, and expressed disappointment that the filmmakers did not submit their claims for review before publication.