On October 7th, 2018, a tragic mistake occurred during a military operation in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of seven Palestinian civilians, including a pregnant woman and her 14-month-old daughter. The Israeli military claimed that the incident was a result of an errant artillery shell that landed in a residential area.
The mistake, however, was not just limited to the misfire of an artillery shell. The Israeli military's response to the incident also raised questions about their handling of the situation. Initially, the military denied any involvement in the deaths, claiming that Hamas was responsible for the deaths. It was only after video evidence emerged that showed Israeli soldiers celebrating the strike that the military admitted responsibility.
The incident highlights several mistakes made by the Israeli military. Firstly, it raises questions about the accuracy of their intelligence gathering and targeting procedures. The fact that an artillery shell landed in a residential area suggests that either the intelligence was faulty or the targeting was inaccurate. This raises concerns about the safety of Palestinian civilians living in Gaza and calls into question the effectiveness of Israel's military operations in the region.
Secondly, the denial of responsibility and subsequent blaming of Hamas is a classic case of victim-blaming. By denying responsibility and placing blame on Hamas, the Israeli military is attempting to shift responsibility for their actions onto another party. This is a common tactic used by militaries around the world to avoid taking responsibility for their mistakes.
Finally, the fact that Israeli soldiers were celebrating the strike raises questions about their adherence to international humanitarian law. The Fourth Geneva Convention requires that parties to a conflict distinguish between civilians and combatants and take all feasible precautions to avoid harming civilians. The fact that Israeli soldiers were celebrating a strike that resulted in civilian deaths suggests that they may not have been adhering to these principles.
In conclusion, the mistake made by the Israeli military on October 7th, 2018, was not just limited to an errant artillery shell. It also highlighted several mistakes made by the military, including faulty intelligence gathering, victim-blaming, and potential violations of international humanitarian law. These mistakes call into question Israel's commitment to protecting Palestinian civilians and raise concerns about their military operations in Gaza.

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