“The 2014 Gaza Conflict, 7 July – 26 August 2014: Factual and Legal Aspects”

In May 2015, Israel published a report that discussed Israel’s conduct during Operation Protective Edge, conducted between July 7 and August 26, 2014. The relevant policies discussed in the document were not necessarily new, but the document can serve as a public articulation of the view of the Israeli government in terms of the relevant legal and policy frameworks that shape behavior during the conduct of hostilities. These issues include areas directly relevant to the ’Children and Armed Conflict’ agenda, namely, attacks on schools and hospitals.

In the report, Israel outlined its approach to targeting educational institutions and hospitals, emphasizing that civilian objects can become military objectives if used for military purposes. The report asserts that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Ministry of Defense prioritize identifying sensitive sites such as schools and hospitals and generally avoid attacking them unless there are compelling reasons, such as active military operations occurring at the site. The report asserts that the IDF issues extensive warnings and times the attacks to avoid or at least mitigate the risk of civilian harm.