Israeli minister: Ensuring civilian safety is our top priority
Israel Minister of Strategic Affairs: “We’re Doing Everything We Can to Keep Civilians Safe”
In a Sunday interview with ABC News’s This Week, Israel Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer emphasized the Jewish state’s commitment to protecting civilians amidst the escalating war in the Middle East. Dermer expressed his desire for Americans to truly grasp the proximity and intensity of the conflict, stating, “This war is not going on thousands of miles away — it’s literally going on hundreds of yards away, and it’s going on at a time when rockets are flying into our country, and we have people running to bomb shelters.”
Unprecedented Measures to Safeguard Civilians
Dermer highlighted the Israel Defense Forces’ unparalleled approach to engaging with Hamas, asserting that their efforts to ensure the safety of enemy civilians are unprecedented in the history of warfare. He emphasized, “When you have an enemy right on your border, and you’re doing everything to get the civilians of that enemy out of harm’s way, I don’t think any other country, including the United States, would take such great care.”
Dermer affirmed Israel’s alignment with the United States in their commitment to minimizing civilian casualties and providing humanitarian aid. He pledged to continue these efforts as the war progresses.
Democrats Divided Over Aid to Israel
As the death toll in Gaza rises, an increasing number of Democrats in Congress are expressing their willingness to impose conditions on future aid to Israel in order to reduce civilian casualties. This has sparked a division within the Democratic Party, with lawmakers facing pressure from pro-Palestinian activists to address the humanitarian crisis.
The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza reported a death toll exceeding 15,200, with 70% of the deceased identified as women and children. On the Israeli side, the Jewish state claims that nearly 1,400 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.
Secretary of Defense Warns of “Strategic Defeat”
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin cautioned that Israel risks a “strategic defeat” if it fails to prioritize the protection of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. His remarks were made during a speech at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California.
Notably, Democratic representatives Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Summer Lee have called for a ceasefire in the conflict between Hamas and Israel. However, their comments have drawn criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, with Tlaib being censured by the House for allegedly promoting false narratives and advocating for the destruction of Israel.
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What steps does the IDF take to minimize civilian casualties among Gaza civilians during conflict?
Ans have never been seen before. He stated, “I can tell you that we are doing everything we can to keep civilians safe, even enemy civilians. The IDF goes to extraordinary lengths to minimize casualties among Gaza civilians. We call them, we send text messages, we drop leaflets, we use social media, and we do precision targeting to try to avoid civilians in the battlefield.”
The Minister of Strategic Affairs emphasized that Israel’s priority is to protect its own citizens and ensure their safety. He stated, “Our goal is to defend our civilians and to protect them, but we don’t want to see any civilians on the other side harmed as well.” Dermer reiterated that Israel uses advanced technology and intelligence to target military sites while aiming to minimize harm to non-combatants.
The Challenge of Fighting an Unconventional Enemy
Dermer acknowledged the difficulty in fighting an enemy that embeds itself among civilian populations and uses them as human shields. He explained, “Hamas deliberately locates its military infrastructure in the heart of residential areas, schools, and hospitals. They use their own people as human shields.” Dermer stressed that this tactic creates a unique challenge for Israel in protecting both its own civilians and those on the other side.
Despite this challenge, Israel maintains its commitment to upholding international humanitarian laws and constantly evaluates its tactics to minimize civilian harm. Dermer highlighted that Israel invests heavily in developing technology that allows for pinpoint strikes on military targets, which helps in avoiding civilian casualties.
An Unwavering Dedication to Civilian Safety
Throughout the interview, Dermer reiterated Israel’s unwavering dedication to protecting civilians. He emphasized that every civilian casualty is a tragedy, whether it is an Israeli or Palestinian life lost. Dermer expressed, “We spend extraordinary amounts of time, money, and effort to do everything we can to protect our civilians on the one hand, and avoid harm to enemy civilians on the other.”
The Minister of Strategic Affairs concluded by urging the international community to recognize the unique challenges Israel faces and to support its efforts in safeguarding civilians. He stated, “We hope the international community recognizes that Israel is in a position where we need to defend ourselves, and we need their support to continue to operate within the bounds of the law, while doing everything we can to keep civilians safe.”
As the conflict in the Middle East continues, Israel remains committed to prioritizing the safety and well-being of all civilians. The Israel Defense Forces’ unprecedented measures to protect both Israeli and enemy civilians demonstrate a commitment to uphold international standards and mitigate the impact of the conflict on innocent lives.
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