Opinion: Expert Insights on Urban Warfare in Israel

John Spencer

Smoke billows into the air as Israeli airstrikes persist in Gaza City, Gaza on November 3, 2023. The attacks, captured in this photo by Ali Jadallah/Anadolu via Getty Images, mark the 29th day of continued aggression.

The attack also meets the standard of "military necessity," indicating that the action was necessary to pursue a legitimate military objective (i.e., eliminating enemy troops) rather than an unlawful objective (causing harm to civilians). The IDF has declared its mission to be the removal of rockets, ammunition depots, power facilities, and transportation systems that Hamas has concealed within the civilian population. Consequently, a number of military experts have evaluated that Israel appears to be adhering to the laws of armed conflict in its Gaza campaign.

People mourn as they wait for the bodies of members of a family killed in a strike to be removed from Rafah's al-Najjar Hospital for burial on November 7.

Abed Rahim Khatib/picture-alliance/dpa/AP

A Palestinian man reacts as others check the rubble of a building in Khan Younis, Gaza, on November 6.

Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

A soldier takes cover as an artillery unit fires from an undisclosed location near the Israel-Gaza border on November 6.

At the Shuhada Al-Aqsa hospital on November 6, a man walks between the shrouded bodies of people killed in the Israeli bombardment in Deir Balah, central Gaza.

Israel Defense Forces/Reuters

Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images

Neil Hall/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Blood is splattered on the side of an ambulance after an Israeli airstrike outside Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Friday, November 3.

Saeed Jaras/APAImages/Shutterstock

Palestinians search for survivors following an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis, Gaza on November 3.

Mohammed Talatene/picture-alliance/dpa/AP

Children wait for the return of Palestinian workers from Israel at the Rafah border in southern Gaza, on November 3.

Pictures of Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas are displayed with balloons as part of an installation in Jerusalem on November 2.

Jalaa Merey/AFP/Getty Images

Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/Getty Images

Abed Zagout/Anadolu/Getty Images

Palestinians search for casualties at the site of Israeli strikes on Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza on October 31.

Anas al-Shareef/Reuters

Israeli army vehicles move along a road near the northern town of Kiryat Shmona close to the border with Lebanon on October 31.

Jalaa Marey/AFP/Getty Images

A Palestinian man holds his wounded child as they receive medical attention at Al-Najjar Hospital following an Israeli airstrike on Rafah in southern Gaza on October 30.

A photo released by the IDF shows its forces continue to expand ground operations in Gaza on October 30.

A man holds wounded children near livestock animals amid heavily damaged buildings, following Israeli attacks at Nuseirat Refugee Camp in Gaza City, on Sunday, October 29.

Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images

Tamir Kalifa/The New York Times/Redux

During a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel on October 28, a man passionately writes a message. The demonstration is held by family members and supporters of hostages who were kidnapped from Israel by Hamas gunmen and currently held in Gaza. They are united in their call for a dialogue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The powerful moment was captured by Ammar Awad in this iconic photograph.

In Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 27, displays of injured teddy bears with covered eyes are featured. These bear exhibits aim to draw attention to the ongoing situation of missing young children and infants, believed to be held captive by Hamas.

An Israeli air force F-15 tactical fighter jet flies along the border with Gaza near Sderot, Israel, on October 27.

Smoke and fire rise from a leveled building after an Israeli strike on Gaza on October 26.

Relatives of hostages held in Gaza demonstrate in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 26.

Tsafrir Abayov/AP

Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images

Rescuers assist a survivor of an Israeli bombardment in Nusseirat refugee camp, Gaza, on Tuesday, October 24.

Ali Mohmoud/AP

A baby receives care inside an incubator at a hospital in Rafah, Gaza, on Monday, October 23.

Mai Yaghi/AFP/Getty Images

Israeli soldiers cry during the funeral of Sgt. Yam Goldstein and her father, Nadav, in Kibbutz Shefayim, Israel, on October 23.

Ariel Schalit/AP

The Smolarz Auditorium at Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv, Israel, showcases a poignant tribute through a display of photographs. These images depict the faces of more than 1,000 individuals who have tragically been abducted, gone missing, or lost their lives in the Hamas attack. The seats within the auditorium remain empty, each holding a photograph that serves as a powerful reminder of the lives affected by this devastating event. This solemn exhibition was held on October 22, allowing visitors to reflect upon the profound impact of such acts of violence.

Relatives mourn for a man killed by Hamas during his funeral in Nir Oz, Israel, on October 22.

Francisco Seco/AP

Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/Getty Images.

Palestinians inspect a destroyed area following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on October 21.

Mohammed Saber/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Muslim Palestinians take part in Friday noon prayers as Israeli police look on in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Ras al-Amud, on October 20.

Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty Images

Civil defense teams and residents continue search and rescue efforts at a Greek Orthodox church after an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 20.

Ali Jadallah/Anadolu/Getty Images

Israel's Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visits soldiers positioned in a field near the Gaza-Israel border on October 19. Gallant expresses to the soldiers, "As you observe Gaza from a distance, rest assured that in the near future, you will have the opportunity to witness it firsthand."

A woman mourns over a dead man at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza City on October 18.

Leon Neal/Getty Images

Ayal Margolin/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

President Biden is greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu after arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv on October 18.

Kenny Holston/The New York Times/Redux

Bodies of Palestinians killed in the blast at the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital lie in front of the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on October 17.

Abed Khaled/AP

A bakery prepares rations of bread to pass out to displaced Palestinians in the Rafah refugee camp, in southern Gaza, on October 17.

Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images

Aid supplies are seen in North Sinai, Egypt on October 16.

Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt at the Rafah border crossing in Gaza on October 16.

Fatima Shbair/AP

Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa/Reuters

Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images

Israeli army Puma armored personnel carriersmove in a column near the Gaza border in southern Israel on October 14.

Aris Messinis/AFP/Getty Images

Eli Albag weeps as he clutches a photograph of his daughter Liri, joining fellow protesters in Tel Aviv, Israel, to demand the release of over 100 abducted Israelis following the recent Hamas attack on October 14th. (Photo credit: Francisco Seco/AP)

Palestinians rescue a wounded man from the rubble of a destroyed building following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza, on October 13.

Israelis take cover after hearing warning sirens of incoming rockets fired from Gaza in Rehovot, Israel, on October 13.

Saher Alghorra/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images

Francisco Seco/AP

Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images

Palestinians seek shelter in Khan Younis, Gaza, after a house next door was hit by an Israeli airstrike on October 12.

Yousef Masoud/The New York Times

Smoke plumes billow during Israeli air strikes in Gaza City on October 12.

Ibrahim Hams/AFP/Getty Images

An Israeli army self-propelled howitzer fires rounds near the border with Gaza in southern Israel on October 11.

An aerial view of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes at the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza City on October 11.

Abed Zagout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Baz Ratner/AP

Maya Alleruzzo/AP

Israeli soldiers are seen carrying a body in Kfar Aza, a village located in Israel near the Gaza border, on October 10. According to the Israel Defense Forces, Hamas militants perpetrated a "massacre" in Kfar Aza during their recent attacks over the weekend, as reported by CNN. [Photo credit: Sergey Ponomarev/The New York Times/Redux]

Mourners gather at the burial site of Eden Guez during her funeral in Ashkelon, Israel, on October 10th. Eden Guez lost her life while attending a music festival that was targeted by terrorists from Gaza. Israeli authorities confirmed the devastating loss of at least 260 individuals at the Nova Festival.

Stranded travelers wait to be booked on a flight at Ben Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv on October 10.

Israelis in Ashkelon take cover in a shelter as a siren sounds a warning of incoming rockets on October 10.

Israelis mourn as they attend the funeral of Israel Defense Forces soldier Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg at Mount Herzel Cemetery in Jerusalem, on October 10.

Samar Abu Elouf/The New York Times/Redux

Amir Cohen/Reuters

Friends and relatives of Ilai Bar Sade mourn next to his grave during his funeral at a military cemetery in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 9.

Erik Marmor/AP

Lightning strikes over Gaza City following an Israeli bombardment on October 9.

Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images

Israeli security and emergency officials respond after a rocket landed in the Israeli settlement of Beitar Ilit, in the occupied West Bank, on October 9.

Israeli soldiers work on a tank at the border between Israel and Gaza on October 9.

A plume of smoke rises in the sky over Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on October 9.

Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images

Erik Marmor/AP

A relative of an Israeli missing since the attacks is overcome by emotion during a press conference in Ramat Gan, Israel, on October 8.

Maya Alleruzzo/AP

An Israeli soldier prays standing in front of a tank on the outskirts of the northern town of Kiryat Shmona on October 8.

Jalaa Marey/AFP/Getty Images

Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from Gaza on October 8.

Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Rockets launched from Gaza are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system on October 8.

A woman runs to her family's reinforced concrete shelter moments after rocket sirens sounded in Ashkelon on October 7.

Fatima Shbair/AP

Tsafrir Abayov/AP

An Israeli woman reacts over the body of her relative who was killed in the southern Israeli city of Sderot on October 7.

Baz Ratner/AP

Vehicles in Ashkelon burn as rockets are launched from Gaza on October 7.

Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters

Israelis donate blood in Jerusalem on October 7.

Maya Alleruzzo/AP

Relatives of Palestinians killed on Saturday, October 7, mourn at the morgue of a hospital in Gaza.

A woman stands in a room damaged by rockets in Ashkelon on October 7.

Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Fatima Shbair/AP

In pictures: Israel at war with Hamas

Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images

Gen. David Petraeus and historian Andrew Roberts: The huge challenge facing Israel

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