Israel’s rules of engagement seem looser than ever – if they are followed at all

The deaths of seven aid workers highlights allegations by observers that commanders on the ground in Gaza may ‘do as they please’

The killing of seven foreign aid workers by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza has once again raised serious questions about the IDF’s opaque and highly permissive rules of engagement, whether those rules are enforced, and how willing it is to investigate breaches.

Put simply, rules of engagement define how and in what circumstances it is permissible to use force, including lethal violence, during operations, and at what potential risk to civilians.