Israel’s military campaign in Gaza is morally justified and legally constrained.
On Friday, two experts published a detailed analysis of social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Following the October 7th massacre in Hamas, more than 1,200 Israelis were killed, mostly civilians, and more than 250 were lured.
Critics questioning the necessity of operations, including some public figures, the author argues that the two definitions of necessity cannot be distinguished.
“Since ” [October 7]there was no shortage of actors I don’t know, like comedian Dave Smith or the malicious political parties weaponizing international law to question whether Israeli military action in Gaza is proportional, legal and ultimately necessary,” they write.
“At the heart of that last question is a serious misconception,” they add.
“Moral necessity,” they explain. They come from just war theory. After diplomacy fails, power must be a last resort.
“In Israel, the record speaks for itself,” the author writes.
It should be noted that Israel withdrew from Gaza completely in 2005 and has since faced an ongoing rocket attack along with a peace overture that has been rejected. The brutal attacks on Hamas civilians, they say, have eliminated doubts about Israel’s right to act in self-defense.
In contrast, “legal necessity” comes from international humanitarian law, which governs the way war is carried out.
Under this framework, military action must achieve specific objectives, avoid excessive civilian harm, and distinguish between legitimate and illegal targets. The IDF emphasizes that it follows one of the strictest legal standards in modern warfare to guide strikes using legal surveillance and real-time assessments.
“All military operations by the Israeli army in Gaza are bound by this standard,” they point out. “It’s not enough to identify Hamas’ presence in buildings or neighbours. To attack legally, the target must provide a concrete and direct military advantage.
Furthermore, Israeli military lawyers and commanders are fully active within this framework.
“Target selection, weapon selection, attack timing and warning mechanisms are scrutinized in real time,” they explain. “The IDF not only operates under legal needs, but also documents and reviews its actions at the level that some modern military forces do, particularly when fighting terrorist groups embedded in civilians.”
The author continues to deal directly with the war itself if it meets the test of moral justification.
“Was war morally necessary? After October 7th – the declaration of repeating those atrocities after the intentional massacre of civilians, the invitation of hostages, and Hamas’ declared intentions – the answer is clearly yes,” they write.
The focus will then shift to the legal framework that will guide Israeli actions in an ongoing campaign.
“Is Israeli military operations legally necessary? Although each strike must meet certain legal thresholds, the IDF operates in one of the toughest legal and ethical frameworks in modern warfare. It has been bound by the laws of armed conflict and demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to minimizing harm.
The author concludes that Israel’s war against Hamas meets both tests. It was not recklessly launched, but was launched in response to an unprecedented terrorist attack. The act lies under constant scrutiny to uphold legal and ethical obligations, even while facing enemies embedded in civilian areas.
“War can be morally justified and legally constrained,” they write. “That’s exactly what Israeli campaign against Hamas is.”
“People who ask if Israeli war is necessary should first understand what they are really asking, and then realize that the answer is yes on all important criteria,” they add.
This issue is because critics continue to demand that Israel be bound to impossible standards as they openly commit themselves to its annihilation and fight terrorist organizations deeply embedded in civilians and infrastructure, including schools, hospitals and residential areas.
Last month, Spencer I explained it How to change the battlefield situation under President Donald Trump and new US support, providing Israel with an “unprecedented opportunity” to completely dismantle Hamas terrorist groups.
Previously, he Discussed The hard-earned military lessons that Israel has earned from urban combat with Hamas inform the military doctrine of the United States.
Joshua Klein is a reporter for Breitbart News. Email him at jklein@breitbart.com. Follow him on Twitter @joshuaklein.
