Israeli Soldiers Reveal Shift in Gaza Rules of Engagement, Civilian Casualties

Israeli soldiers from intelligence and drone units have revealed significant changes in the IDF's rules of engagement during the war in Gaza, leading to increased civilian casualties. According to testimonies from four soldiers to the newspaper Haaretz, the initial days after the October 7th attacks saw a severe intelligence deficit regarding Hamas's lower-level operatives. This was partly due to a 2022 recommendation from military intelligence to cease collecting information on Hamas members below the rank of brigade commander, based on the belief that new border defenses made a large-scale ground attack unlikely.

Following the October 7th attacks, a frantic effort to gather intelligence began. The soldiers described a rapid lowering of standards for defining a "terrorist," a sharp alteration in the concept of proportionality, the use of heavy munitions, and a significant expansion of policies allowing civilian harm as "collateral damage." Previously, the IDF adhered more strictly to international humanitarian law, including the principle of proportionality and minimizing civilian harm, especially in densely populated areas. An example cited was a 2003 operation targeting Hamas leadership, which was altered at the last minute to avoid civilian casualties, unlike current practices.

The soldiers reported that unqualified individuals were brought into intelligence roles, some with no prior experience, leading to the targeting of "marginal elements" identified through social media activity. Standards for engagement were relaxed, with even low-ranking Hamas members and drivers becoming targets. The concept of proportionality was severely strained, as evidenced by the October 31, 2023, airstrike on a Hamas battalion commander, Ibrahim al-Biyari, in Jabalia. Intelligence indicated al-Biyari was in a tunnel beneath several large buildings, but precise location was unknown. The decision was made to strike all buildings, including those still occupied by civilians, with an estimated 250-300 civilian casualties, a number the IDF disputes but acknowledges was exceeded.

Further testimonies detail the targeting of individuals near Israeli forces, with a rule allowing engagement if a man was within a few hundred meters, regardless of age, due to difficulties in aerial identification. The soldiers also described targeting displaced Palestinians scavenging in damaged homes, labeling them "thieves" or potential threats, despite ethical objections from some personnel. The breakdown of prisoner exchange negotiations in March 2025 and the resumption of intense fighting reportedly led to further disillusionment among soldiers, who felt they were approving strikes causing massive civilian harm for the sake of targeting "marginal elements."

The IDF spokesperson denied claims of pre-approved strikes expected to cause hundreds of civilian deaths, stating that all attacks were subject to individual assessments of proportionality and adherence to international humanitarian law. The spokesperson confirmed the Jabalia strike targeted a Hamas command center and that the operation was repeatedly reviewed to minimize civilian impact, though the actual damage exceeded initial estimates due to previously unknown tunnels. The IDF asserted that its commitment to international law has not changed and has been emphasized throughout the war.