Much focus in the war between Israel and Hamas has been around international law. Is Israel bombing indiscriminately when so many civilians are dying? These attacks take place within the framework of something called Targeting, which is used by armed forces in the West.
Targeting is simply the craft of prioritizing targets and matching these with resources to achieve military objectives in an operation. It takes place in a carefully regulated process with hundreds of people in staffs involved around the clock.
We are now talking about the Targeting that takes place at higher levels with aerial, robotic and cyber efforts as examples. On the battlefield for a firing squad, things go much faster. Anyone shooting? Return fire. Anyone grouping a machine gun? Fire may be opened, depending on the rules of engagement. /3
Back to the staffs. When Targeting is done in the normal process, you are one to several days ahead of the attacks themselves. From the military objectives, what supports them is taken out. If the goal is to cut off northern Gaza and beat Hamas's military capabilities, that dictates the target choices. /4
Let's use a Hamas brigade headquarters as an example. This has been identified somewhat earlier during a school. Sensors are constantly trying to get a better position determination. Secondly for international law, primarily for military efficiency. /5
Knocking this out would make it difficult for Hamas to command its forces in northwestern Gaza, for example. A clear military target. Staff personnel nominate this to a target list, and when all nominations are made these are prioritized in the JPITL, a combined target list for all forces. /6
Our brigade staff ends up high up, in place 4. In parallel with nominations, constant ability analyzes take place. What platforms & weapons are available for grabs? Are there sensors graspable that can improve the image of the target? An assignment to track goes out to another signal intelligence unit. /7
In part of the staff, people sit and carry out so-called Weaponeering. To match the target with the properties of different weapons & what effect they can statistically achieve. Software that can simulate the damage is used. The planners want to use cruise robots & 2nd hand guided bombs. /8
It turns out that the cruise robots must be used for the targets in place for the next one to three days. Shall we wait another day? No, then there will be four guided 500 kg bombs. There is a group of aircraft interceptable by a fighter division tomorrow. /9
The sensors have not been able to improve the image, so they choose to simulate towards the center of the school. Two bombs first & 30 sec later two more. A residential building is close by on one side and will probably be destroyed. Are there civilians? Yes, it is clearly visible on surveillance photos. /10
The matter goes to the independent organization of international law lawyers. Is this a military necessity? Yes, definitely. Can we distinguish between military targets and civilians? Yes, obviously. Have we warned the civilian population? Yes, since four days ago. /11
Is it proportionate to kill fifty civilians in the worst case? No, says the department. What happens if you hit ten meters to the left? New simulation. The apartment building is doing pretty well, but we only have 65% effectiveness against the Hamas staff. /12
Two more bombs? Bombs are there, but no more planes in the division for the next 24 hours. Ok, then the meeting point is moved ten m. Orders are produced & during the next day pilots are briefed, the plane is refueled & loaded. The group takes off in the dark and takes off. The first bombs are dropped. /13
Suddenly it crackles. Hamas fires rockets at Israel. Hamas' larger rocket system is a time-sensitive target. Root Two is ordered to interrupt & directly attack the rocket systems firing from southern Gaza. The target location is linked from a UAV & the bombs now go towards this target instead. /14
Now a combat assessment begins. What was the damage to the target? Is the brigade staff intact? Did the weapons work effectively? After a couple of hours, the first analysis is ready. The staff sends an order to regroup. The bombs hit right, the school destroyed & the civilians in the apartment building remain. /15
The staff is in reality now the list's highest priority target. The operational commander gives orders for a new attack to the available reserve. Heated discussion in the staff. Can we move the hit point to the middle? The civilians should move. What is the alternative if we don't attack? /16
Our ground forces will be met by a better coordinated defense. The military necessity has increased. A decision is made about a new operation with 4 bombs in the middle of the school. A warning must be issued on the radio 5 minutes before the attack. Everything starts rolling again in the dawn light, but much faster. /17
In a couple of hours, the ground commander will be informed that the brigade command is no longer working and that it is time to attack. Nobody knows at the moment that one of the bombs for an unknown reason hit the middle of the apartment building and killed the four civilians who were still left. //
