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The Israeli response to Hamas's deadly October 7 attacks is still in its early stages. As Israel's military operation continues, the moral obligation to reduce civilian harm cannot be ignored, says RAND's Karen Sudkamp. This is especially important considering that Hamas is deeply integrated into the civilian population in Gaza—and entrenched in the territory's urban infrastructure.
Previous RAND research on the U.S.-led battle to expel ISIS from the town of Raqqa, Syria, highlights key lessons that can help protect civilians.
For example, ISIS used civilian infrastructure in Raqqa as a defense against U.S. forces; Hamas has a history of such tactics, too. This means that Israel must carefully consider its decisions about individual strikes, with a focus on minimizing civilian harm.
Also in Syria, humanitarian corridors were critical to helping civilians escape the war zone and gain access to basic resources. Establishing similar escape routes could save civilian lives in Gaza as well.
Unfortunately, civilian deaths and infrastructure damage can never be completely prevented during a war. But one of the distinctions between the international community and groups like Hamas and ISIS is a commitment to protecting civilians during conflict. “While extracting vengeance through an eye-for-eye approach may seem legitimate,” Sudkamp writes, “listening to better angels could help reduce civilian harm in the long run.”
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