By Sean Bell, military analyst
Although the IDF has admitted to a “grave mistake” in conducting strikes that killed aid workers, including three British nationals, does this draw a line under such a tragic loss of life?
In war, human errors are inevitable.
Fear, adrenalin and jeopardy inevitably impact adversely on human judgements at times, so professional military organisations develop processes and SOPs – standard operating procedures – to limit the potential for an individual human error to culminate in a strategic disaster.
Although battlefields are an extremely dangerous environment, specific targeting of dynamic – often mobile – targets using drones and fighter jets is a complex process designed to ensure any target is accurately identified, that rules of engagement (ROE) and a formal weapon release approval process are followed.
Over a decade ago, the International Security Assistance Force’s dynamic targeting cell in Kabul always included a legal advisor to ensure that military expediency was balanced by measured legal advice.
Although ensuring any attack met the ROE took time, and on occasion led to a lost opportunity to target the enemy, it was a robust process designed to avoid tragic mistakes.
Tactical errors can have strategic consequences, and a professional military is defined by its ability to be operationally effective, robust and legal.
On this occasion, the IDF did not have a robust process in place to ensure the safety of aid workers.
Over 196 Palestinian aid workers have lost their lives in Gaza since 7 October, and with the growing toll of civilian casualties, how many other incidents involving the death of civilians have been investigated?
Would this incident have been investigated if it had not included seven international aid workers, including three British nationals?
This all raises the question of whether this was a one-off tragic incident, or an indication of wider systemic failures within the Israeli military.
