____________________________________________ 5 IICC Perspectives died, a fact which has to be considered by anyone whose principles include the sanctity of human life. The principles of morality and of the just war theory allow, under certain circumstances, for non-combatants to be harmed during military activity. The situations allowing such damage without condemnation are those in which combatants and non-combatants are found together in such a way that the enemy cannot be attacked without causing danger to non-combatants. The theory of just war introduced the idea of proportionality, which allows harm to noncombatants if it is not excessive in relation to the military benefit expected from the action it entails. The Israeli Air Force and other IDF branches operate according to the principle of proportionality. We cannot know which equations allow non-combatants to be harmed in situations where significant military benefit can be expected. In a targeted killing, familiar outside the context of war, considerations of proportionality seem reasonable. It is possible that considerations of proportionality during air and ground activity in the Iron Swords War, restraint may have been insufficient to pass the proportionality test of morality. Beginning in August 2023, the United States Secretary of Defense led an impressive, organized effort to reduce harm to those not involved in the military activities of American forces, and a great deal can be learned from his demands and organizational steps. I saw no influence of his steps on conduct in Israel. I made one attempt to bring the spirit of his effort to the attention of the public and to provoke a responsible discussion; it was unsuccessful. Professionalism Military activity involves giving orders to commanders and soldiers in a wide variety of professional, specialized areas. A comprehensive, responsible, expert investigation of the war will have to delve deeper into each of those areas. Professionalism is an IDF principle and a central pillar of the State of Israel's ability to meet its obligations. At first glance, the range of possible assessments is obvious, from the stunning professional failure of certain intelligence units to warn of the expected attack, its timing and methods, to the unprecedented professional success of the medical corps in saving the lives of an enormous number of wounded soldiers. The overall investigation will have to deal with all the aspects, but it is already worth noting two of them: First, in early July 2024, data on IDF losses during the war were published: 320 soldiers had been killed since the beginning of the ground maneuver, of whom 51 were killed in operational accidents, including 28 who were killed by friendly fire as well as five in shooting errors. Apparently, a significant number were victims of military conduct which did not meet the demanded, expected professional level. A responsible investigation should lead to full professional improvement. Second, the success of the medical corps in rescuing wounded soldiers can be explained on the one hand by loyalty to the IDF creed of the sanctity of life, but no less by the loyalty of the
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