Israel's 7 October response risked civilians and soldiers

'Area around the border fence was turned into a killing zone'

- ALISHA RAHAMAN SARKAR

The Israeli army invoked its controversial “Hannibal Directive” uring the 7 October Hamas attack, according to a report, a measure that has the potential to increase risks to civilian lives.

The directive was created by the Israeli military in the 1980s as an operating procedure designed to prevent the kidnap of soldiers by whatever means necessary, even if that comes at the expense of the lives of civilian hostages.

It has previously been blamed for possible war crimes, encouraging excessive or indiscriminate fire, and was formally discontinued in 2016. But the protocol was invoked at three military facilities attacked by Hamas last year, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported, citing testimonies of army officers and soldiers.

Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel in the early hours of 7 October, reportedly killing 1,139 soldiers and civilians and taking more than 250 people hostage.