As Israeli forces intensify their campaign to put an end to the terrorist rocket threat emanating from Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are taking unprecedented steps to avoid civilian casualties, often at the cost of successfully completing their missions.
The IDF listed the various methods it uses to avoid civilian casualties on its official blog. In particular, the IDF has made thousands of phone calls to Palestinian homes located near terrorist targets warning residents beforehand of an impending strike. The IDF has also dropped thousands of leaflets over Gaza that read:
"For your own safety, take responsibility for yourselves and avoid being present in the vicinity of Hamas operatives and facilities and those of other terror organizations that pose a risk to your safety. Hamas is once again dragging the region to violence and bloodshed."
Sadly, Hamas and its allied terror groups have a cynical disregard for all life, even the lives of Palestinians, and seems to actively seek civilian casualties for use in the public relations battle to delegitimize Israel.
The following image posted by the IDF shows a Hamas missile launch site situated in the middle of a civilian neighborhood a very short distance from a local mosque and adjacent kindergarten. (photo not availabe)